HAWK OWL. 
271 
one-half the size of life. It has also another strong trait of the 
Hawk tribe, — in flying and preying by day, contrary to the 
general habit of Owls. It is characterized as a bold and active 
species, following the fowler, and carrying off his game as soon 
as it is shot. It is said to prey on Partridges and other birds ; 
and is very common at Hudson’s Bay, where it is called by 
the Indians Coparacoch .* We are also informed that this 
same species inhabits Denmark and Sweden, is frequent in all 
Siberia, and on the west side of the Uralian chain as far as 
Casan and the Volga ; but not in Russia.f It was also seen 
by the navigators near Sandwich Sound, in lat. 61 deg. north. 
This species is very rare in Pennsylvania, and the more 
southern parts of the United States. Its favourite range seems 
to be along the borders of the Arctic Regions, making occa- 
sional excursions southwardly when compelled by severity of 
weather, and consequent scarcity of food. I some time ago 
received a drawing of this bird, from the district of Maine, 
where it was considered rare : that, and the specimen from 
which the drawing in the plate was taken,, which was shot in 
the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, are the only two that have 
come under my notice. These having luckily happened to 
be male and female, have enabled me to give a description 
of both. Of their nest, or manner of breeding, we have 
no account. 
The male of this species is fifteen inches long ; the bill, 
orange yellow, and almost hid among the feathers ; plumage 
of the chin, curving up over the under mandible ; eyes, bright 
orange ; head, small ; face, narrow, and with very little con- 
cavity ; cheeks, white ; crown and hind head, dusky black, 
thickly marked with round spots of white ; sides of the neck, 
marked with a large curving streak of brown black, with 
another a little behind it of a triangular form ; back, scapulars, 
rump, and tail-coverts, brown olive, thickly speckled with 
broad spots of white ; the tail extends three inches beyond 
the tips of the wings, is of a brown olive colour, and crossed 
* Edwards. f Pennant. 
