274 HUDSON^IAlSr OWL. 



Doctor Forster, who observed it at Hudson's Bay, 

 informs us that the maie is larger than the female, 

 with the colours darker and the spots more distinct : 

 its weight twelve ounces> and its length seventeen 

 inches. 



HUDSONIAN OWL. 



Strix Hudsonia. S.fusca alba maculuta, subtus alba fusco trans- 



versim striata, rostra iridibusque fulvis. 

 Brown Owl spotted with white^ beneath white with transverse 



linear streaks, and fulvous bill and irides. 

 Little Hawk Owl. Edw. pi. 62. 

 Strix freti Hudsonis. Briss. ] . p. 520, 

 Caparacoch. Bii^. ois. 

 Hawk Owl. Lath, si^n* 



The first describer of this species seems to have 

 been Edwards, who has figured it on the sixty- 

 second plate of his excellent ornithological work. 



It is rather bigger, says Edwards^, than a Sparrow- 

 Hawk, having much the air of a Hawk, from the 

 length of its wings and tail; but the form of the 

 head and feet declare it to be near of kin to the 

 Owl kind. I am told by my friend who brought 

 two of their stuffed skins to me, that they fly and 

 prey at high noon, which is contrary to the nature 

 of most of the Owl kind. The bill is like a Hawk's, 

 but without angles on the sides ; of a bright red- 

 dish yellow. I am told that the eyes are of the 

 same colour. The spaces round the eyes are white, 

 a little shaded with brown, and dashed with small. 



