in an exhausted state, on hoard a collier, a few miles off the
coast of Cornwall, in March, 1830. On the arrival of the
vessel at Waterford, whither she was bound, the bird was
given to a friend of Dr. Burkitt, with whom it lived for
a few weeks, and then came into his possession. Such was
the account given by the late Mr. William Thompson when
exhibiting the specimen at a meeting of the Zoological
Society in 1835, and published in its ‘ Proceedings ’ for that
year (page 77). Four other examples have since occurred.
On a sunny afternoon in August, 1847, as recorded by Mr.
E. T. Higgins (Zool. p. 3029), a bird of this species was
shot near Yatton in Somersetshire while hawking for prey ;
and the specimen is now in Mr. Borrer’s collection. Mr.
Saxby has forwarded the information that one was killed at
Scaa, in Unst, in the winter of 1800 -61, and that its skin
came into his possession. Mr. Robert Gray states that
in December, 1863, he examined a very fine specimen
which was shot at Maryhill near Glasgow, and exhibited at a
meeting of the Natural History Society of that city, by Dr.
Dewar in whose collection it now is. Mr. Gray adds that
another example was taken in the flesh to a bird-stuffer at
Greenock, in November, 1868, which was procured by Mr.
William Boyd, and is supposed to have been killed at no
great distance from that town.
This species inhabits the pine forests of the more northern
parts of both hemispheres, and in the Old World its range
extends from Norway to the Amoor-country and Kamtchatka.
The precise southern limits of its breeding-district do not
seem to have been determined, but in Scandinavia they are
believed to be not lower than 57° N. lat. Thence it wanders
at times, and especially in winter, to Denmark, Belgium and
Germany, having been obtained so far southward as Metz in
Lorraine and Laxenburg in Austria. In America it is rarely
seen so far south as Pennsylvania, and there only in severe
winters. I t does not inhabit either Iceland or Greenland.
The most recent account of the habits of this species has
been supplied by travellers in the North of Europe. The
late Mr. Wolley, in a letter to the Editor, (part of which
was printed in the ‘ Zoologist ’ for 1854) says that this bird,
which in some years is extremely abundant in Lapland,
“ flies much in the daytime, and, with its long tail, short,
sharp wings and quick flight has a very Hawk-like appearance
in the air, when its large square head is not seen.
Its cry near its nest is also similar to a Hawk’s ; and it
often sits on the bare top of an old dead fir, and has not
the least fear of a gun. I t carries itself much after the
fashion of the more regular Owls; but whilst all the feathers
at the back give a great breadth to its full face, there is
quite a table at the top of its head. I t casts its bright
yellow eyes downwards with the true air of half-puzzled
wisdom, or turns its head round for a leisurely gaze in
another direction; to glance backwards is out of the question,
and to look at anyone with a single eye is much beneath
its dignity. From my window I have seen it fly down
from its stand and take the mouse it caught back to the
tree before it began to eat i t ; but it shifted its place several
times before it found a convenient spot for finishing the
meal. I do not know whether it is in the habit of also hunting
on the wing, but this year mice are so abundant that
such exertion would be superfluous. When disabled from
flight, it at once squares itself for defence, putting on its
most formidable countenance, guarding its back and presenting
its front to the enemy. Calmly and silently it maintains
its ground, or springs from a short distance on its foe.
So bravely it dies, without a thought of glory and without a
chance of fame, for of its kind there are no cowards.”
Subsequently the same excellent observer had numerous
opportunities of becoming acquainted with the Hawk-Owl’s
mode of breeding, and found that early in the year it occupies
a hole in a tree, or one of the nest-boxes set up by
the people for the accommodation of Ducks, in which the lien-
bird lays from five to eight white eggs, measuring from l -63
to 1-43 by 1-26 to 1-13 in. The nest is boldly defended by
its owners, and especially by the cock, who during incubation
will fiercely attack and with his talons seriously wound any
invader, often losing his life thereby. The late Mr. Wheel-
vol. i. B B