Jar W
V.
Nest on the ground. Eggs, three to ten, 2.24 X 176. "The Snowy Owl is diurnal in its habits, but like most birds is more active in search of prey during the early morning and again toward dusk. Like many of the Hawks, it occupies a commanding perch for hours, watching what is going on about it, occasionally varying the monotony by dropping on a mouse or launching out over the broad country, soon to return to its perch. During its southern wanderings it is very partial to localities in the vicinity of water, especially the barren sand wastes along the seashore or extensive marshy flats bordering the bays and rivers. "The flight is firm, smooth, and noiseless, and may be long pro- OWLS. tracted. It is capable of rapid flight, and, according to Audubon, is able to capture Ducks, Pigeons, and even Grouse on the wing, striking them down after the manner of the Duck Hawk. "Of 38 stomachs examined, 2 contained game birds; 9, other birds; 18, mice; 2, other mammals; and 12 were empty" (Fisher). 377. Surnia ulula caparoch (Müll.). AMERICAN HAWK OWL. Ad.-Size medium; no ear-tufts; upper parts dark grayish brown or fuscous; head and hind neck spotted with white; back, and especially tertials, barred with white; tail with broken whitish bars, long and rounded, the outer feathers more than an inch shorter than the middle ones; middle of the throat with a fuscous spot and below it a white one; sides of the neck and upper breast streaked with fuscous, rest of the under parts barred with fuscous and white; legs and feet fully feathered. L., 15.00; W., 8.75; T., 7-25.