Hawk Owl.

Strix funerea, Linn. Faun. Suec., p. 25.

—— ulula, Linn. Faun. Suec., p. 26.

— doliata, Pall. Zool. Ross.-Asiat., tom. i. p. 316.

—— hudsonia, Gmel. edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 295.

—— nisoria, Meyer, Taschenb. Deutschl. Vog., tom. i. p. 84.

— arctica, Sparrm. Mus. Carls. p. 51.

Noctua (Surnia) funerea, Cuv. Régn. Anim., edit. 1817, tom. i. De doe
Surnia funerea, Brehm, Vog. Deutschl., tom. i. pe LOL.

borealis, Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 100.

ulula, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 36.

 

 

Syrnium nisoria, Kaup, Natiirl. Sys. der Eur. Thier., p. 59.

 

Tus diurnal Owl, so commonly spread over many parts of Northern Europe, Siberia, and America, having
been twice captured in England, ornithologists generally agree in the propriety of giving it a place in our
avifauna: its visits, however, must be regarded as pnrely accidental ; and destitute as these islands are
of the peculiarly wild and sterile districts so frequent in the countries it inhabits, it is not likely that
it will ever become a resident here. Its first occurrence in Britain was recorded by the ite Mr.
Thompson, of Belfast, in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for 1835, in the fol-
lowing words :—‘‘ Surnia funerea. An Owl of this species, preserved in the collection of Dr. Birkitt, of
Waterford, was taken on board a collier, a few miles off the coast of Cornwall, in March 1830, being at the
time in so exhausted a state as to allow itself to be captured by the hand. On the arrival of the vessel at
Waterford, whither she was bound, the bird was given to a friend of Dr. Birkitt, with whom it lived a few
weeks, and then came into his possession.”

The second instance of its appearance was recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1851, p. 8029, by Mr. E. ‘T.
Higgins, who says: “ The subject of this communication was shot on the 25th or 26th of August, 1847,
about two o’clock in the afternoon (the sun shining brightly at the time), whilst hawking for prey on Back-
well Hill, near the Yatton (Clevedon) Station, on the Bristol and Exeter Railway, and on the day following,
whilst still in the flesh, came under my observation ; for the genuineness of the specimen I can therefore
vouch. The delay in the record of its capture has arisen from my inability to obtain the bird for description
sooner. Having at length had it placed im my hands, I hasten to bring it before your readers.” After giving
a minute description, and a very good woodcut of the specimen, he continues: ‘ This is in all probability a
‘in all probability,’ because the rare birds, which have at different times been obtained
first or second year. May we not, from

young bird; I say
in England, have, with scarcely an exception, been examples of the
this remarkable but well-known fact, reasonably conclude that the occurrence of these accidental visitors
is to be attributed to their instincts not bemg sufficiently developed to enable them to retrace their way
when carried to a distance from their natural habitat by a strong current of wind ?”

For an account of the habits and economy of this elegant and singular Owl, which of course I have had
myself, I must draw largely upon other ornithological writers
‘ Zoologist,’ and Mr. Wheelwright’s in his ‘Spring and Summer

en nearest home, and because, in my opinion, their

ne : and shall com-
no opportunities of observing gh

mence with Mr. Wolley’s account in the
in Lapland,’ both because they treat of the bird as se
remarks are particularly truthful and interesting.

«¢ The Hawk Owl,” says Mr. Wolley, “ is not uncommon in Lapland.
k flight, has a very hawk-like appearance in the
: ar its nest, is also similar to a hawk’s ;

It flies much in the day-time, and, ith
its long tail, short wings, and quic air when the large and square
form of its head is not seen. Its cry, when uttered ne
on the bare top of an old dead fir to watch intruders, appare
fashion of the more regular Owls ;
is quite a ‘ table’ at the top of its head. :
or turns its head round for a leisurely g
any one with a single eye much beneath

and it often sits

ntly without any idea that it can be in danger. It
carries itself much after the but, while the feathers at the back give a
} . .

: It casts its bright yellow eyes
great breadth to its full face, there \
downwards with the true air of half-puzzled wisdom,
direction ; to glance backwards is out of the question fe
5 S 2 . 7 . ‘ : m on ; ‘ ake
its dignity. I have seen it from my window fly down from its stand, wn tak ue

i tee  obifiad ite place several times before 1¢ found a
the tree before it began to eat it; but it shifted its place sevet ‘times J ; he alge
When disabled, it at once « squares itself for defence, putting on

i c vU, c i.
its front to the enemy ; silently and calmly it

aze in another
, and to look at
the mouse it caught back to

convenient spot

for finishing the meal.

formidable countenance, guarding its back and presenting