64 
U. S. P. R. R EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 
SURNIA, Dumeril. 
Surnia, Dumeril, Zoologie Analytique, p. 34, (1806.) 
General form rather long, but robust ; size, medium. Head moderate, without ear tufts ; facial disc obsolete ; bill moderate, 
curved from the base, covered with projecting plumes ; wings long ; tail long, wide, graduated ; legs rather short, and with the 
toes densely feathered ; contains one species only, which inhabits the arctic regions of both continents. 
SURNIA ULULA, Linnaeus. 
The Hawk Owl ; The Day Owl. 
Strix ulula, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 133. (1*766., 
Strix hudsonia, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 295. (1788.) 
Strix doliata, Pallas, Zoog. Ross. As. I, p. 316. (1811.) 
" Strix funerea, Linn." — Aububon. 
Figures .—Wilson Am. Orn. VI, pi. 50, fig. 6 ; Aud. B. of Am., pi. 378 : Oct. ed. I, pi. 27 ; Nat. Hist. New York, Birds, pi . 
9, fig. 19 ; Gould B. of Eur. I, pi. 
Wings rather long ; first three quills incised on their inner webs; tail long, with its central feathers about two inches 
longer than the outer ; tarsi and toes densely feathered. Upper parts fuliginous brown, with numerous partially concealed 
circular spots of white on the neck behind scapulars and wing coverts. Face grayish white ; throat white, with longitudinal 
stripes of dark brown ; a large brown spot on each side of the breast ; other under parts with transverse lines or stripes of pale 
ashy brown ; quills and tail brown, with transverse bands of white ; bill pale yellowish ; irides yellow. Color of upper parts 
darker on the head, and the white markings more or less numerous in different specimens. 
Total length, female, 16 to 17 inches ; wing 9, tail 7 inches. Male rather smaller. 
Hab. — Northern regions of Loth continents ; Canada, (Dr. Hall ;) Wisconsin, (Dr. Hoy ;) Massachusetts, (Dr. Brewer.) 
Spec, in Nat. Mus., Washington, and Mus. Acad., Philadelphia. 
This bird inhabits the arctic regions, and has been noticed as far north as explorers or 
navigators have penetrated, migrating more southwardly in the winter season. It does not, 
however, wander so extensively as the snowy owl, (Nyctea nivea,) and is rarely seen as far south 
as Pennsylvania. From the western countries of North America we have never seen this species. 
This remarkable bird partakes of the general appearance and habits also of both an owl and 
a falcon, and is represented as being, to a considerable extent, diurnal in its habits, venturing 
abroad boldly by daylight. Specimens from northern America and from northern Europe and 
Asia are quite identical. 
List of specimens. 
6 
6 
Measurements. 
Locality. When collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Collected by — 
a 
a 
o 
in 
o 
6912 
Nelson river, H.B.T 
D. Gunn 
6913 
GO 14 
do \ 
....do 
8000 
John Gould 
7084 
The preceding descriptions embrace all the owls known to inhabit North America, and with 
this family we close the order of rapacious birds. 
