136 BIRDS OF PREY. 



thickest forests. It is a nocturnal kind, lodging con- 

 stantly in hollow trees, and commencing its rambles about 

 dusk. It flies lightly and sideways like most of the genus, 

 is a keen mouser, and may be decoyed within gun-shot by 

 imitating the squeak of that animal. It is however ob- 

 served to be rather dainty, seldom eating more than the 

 fore-quarters of its prey, and leaving the rest in its nest 

 untouched. It is said now and then to burrow like a 

 rabbit, probably after its prey when heard or seen, in 

 which particular it seems to follow, in a measure, the 

 habit of the S. cunicularia, or Burrowing Owl, already 

 mentioned. Like the Long-Eared species, it takes but 

 little trouble about a nest, constantly occupying those of 

 other large birds which have become neglected, such as 

 that of the Buzzard, Kestril, Crow, or Magpie. Its eggs, 

 4 or 5 in number, are whitish, and round as usual. 



Although, during summer, it lodges constantly in the 

 hollow trees of the forest, in winter it occasionally 

 ventures to approach habitations and farm-yards, assisting 

 the cat in ridding the premises of rats and mice. It 

 also pursues and catches small birds, or picks them off 

 their roost, and devours frogs and beetles. Early in the 

 morning durins summer, it retires into the woods, and 

 conceals itself in the thickest copse, or sleeps away the 

 day, hidden amidst the foliage of the most shady trees. 

 Its dismal cry, hod, ody 66, 66, do, 66, 66, resembling the 

 howling of the wolf (uJidare), originated its nameof w/w/a 

 among the Romans. The cry of the young bird, or Tawny 

 Owl, is like a shouting or hallooing h6h6, h6Ii6, hdJi6h6h6, 

 which, however unpleasant, has the curious effect of draw- 

 ing great numbers of small birds around him, at 

 which times, it is probable, he repays their insolent curi- 

 osity by seizing and feeding on the plumpest of them. 



