LONG-EARED OWL. 131 



her company, and so peaceable, that one of the Quas 

 had a nest in the same tree with the Owl. The eggs 

 are 4 or 5, white and round at both ends. The young, 

 until nearly fully grown, are greyish white, and roost 

 close together on a large branch, during the day, shelter- 

 ed and hid amidst the thickest foliage ; they acquire 

 their natural color in about 15 days. Besides mice and 

 rats, this species also preys on field-mice, moles, and 

 beetles. The plaintive cry, or hollow moaning made by 

 this bird, '* doio cloud," incessantly repeated during the 

 night, so as to be troublesome where they frequent, is 

 very attractive to the larger birds, who, out of curiosity, 

 and for persecution, assemble round this species when 

 employed as a decoy, and are thus shot, or caught by 

 limed twigs. 



The length of this species is about 14 inches. The tufts or ear- 

 like feathers from 6 to 10, black, edged with ochreous and whitish. 

 Irids bright yellow. Above, the plumage is ferruginous yellow, irreg- 

 ularly spotted with dark brown and light grey. Below, of a pale 

 ochre yellow, with oblong spots of blackish brown. Bill black. The 

 female has the throat and face white ; the latter marked at the sides 

 with brown spots. All the plumage is also more tinged with grey- 

 ish white. The young before moulting are of a ferruginous white, 

 marked with transverse blackish lines. The tail and the wings 

 grey, with numerous brown points ; and with 7 or 8 transverse dark 

 brown bands. The whole face of a blackish brown. The iris paler, 

 and the cere inclining to olive. 



