86 



THE LONG-EARED OWL. 



There is recorded another anecdote of a pair of Brown Owls that were kept in confine- 

 ment, and which, when approached by any stranger, would fly at him and fasten their 



talons into his head with such angry 

 violence that they could but be re- 

 moved by direct force. 



i 



BROWN OWL.- Syrnlam aluco. 



THE fine bird known by the namo 

 of the URAL OWL (St/rnium uralense) 

 belongs to the same genus with the 

 Barn Owl. This bird is nearly two feet 

 in length, and preys on hares, rabbits, 

 grouse, and other large quarry, after 

 the manner of the Eagle Owl. It is a 

 native of the colder regions of Europe 

 and Asia. The BEARDED OWL, so called 

 from a beard-like spot upon its throat, 

 is a species of the same genus, and 

 found in the same countries. See p. 77. 



WE now come to a familiar exam- 

 ple of the Owls, a bird that has at- 

 tracted great notice on account of its 

 singular aspect. This is the LONG- 

 EARED OWL, its popular name being 

 derived from the -great length of the 

 "ears," or feather-tufts which are 

 placed upon the head, and erect them- 

 selves whenever the bird is excited. 

 It is illustrated on page 81, together 

 with the Scops-eared Owl. 



The Long-eared Owl is found in almost all parts of Europe, and also inhabits portions of 

 Asia, Africa, and America, so that it possesses a very large geographical range. It is not a 

 very large bird, being only fourteen or fifteen inches in length, but is a most rapacious being, 

 preying upon all the smaller mammalia, and capturing the finches and other small birds with 

 as much success as if it were a hawk rather than an Owl. Even moles fall victims to the 

 Long -eared Owl, and in the "castings" of this species have been found the remains of mice, 

 rats, and various birds. 



While the young are still in the nest, the parent birds display a singular assiduity in col- 

 lecting food for their infant charge, and make sad havoc among the half -fledged nestlings of 

 the neighborhood. The nest of this species seems seldom to be built by the bird itself, as the 

 Owl prefers to take to the deserted nest of some other bird, and to fit up the premises for its 

 own use. According to Mr. Yarrell, this Owl has been known to take possession of the nest of 

 a squirrel, and therein to rear its young. The eggs of the Long-eared Owl are generally four 

 or five in number, and white, as is the case with nearly all Owls' eggs. 



It is a decidedly nocturnal bird, seldom being seen in the light of day, and being always 

 greatly disturbed if it should chance to issue from its concealment while the sun is above the 

 horizon. When it can take its choice of locality, it seems always to prefer some spot where the 

 foliage is thick, dark, and heavy, and if possible will build its nest in the shade of some large 

 evergreen. 



The color of this bird is very handsome, but so complicated that it is not easy to describe. 

 The color of the back and upper feathers of the body is pale brown, diversified on the neck 

 and shoulders by sundry longitudinal streaks of black -brown. The upper surface of the wings 

 is variously splashed with black, fawn, and brown, and the primaries are light chestnut barred 

 and spotted with dark brown. The facial disc is curiously marked with several shades of 



