200 JOTTINGS ABOUT BIRDS. 



ment, watching the sea-birds, the rabbits, and the 

 wild-fowl, or swooping after theni in all the heat 

 and pride of chase : the Buzzard {Buteo vu/gari.s), 

 sluggishly beating along the uplands in quest of 

 small and weak defenceless animals: the Sparrow 

 Hawk [Accipitei- Jii.ms), dashing along the hedge- 

 rows at dawn or even in quest of small Finches : 

 the Kestrel {Faico tinnunculus), high up in the blue 

 sky, floating on quivering wings and outspread tail, 

 surveying the meadows and the stubbles below for 

 mice : the Osprey {Pandion haliaetus), making a 

 meal off a captured fish, or striking at its finny 

 prey in the clear blue mountain lakes or lowland 

 broads. The Owls also are remarkably telling 

 subjects for the painter. What more noble-looking 

 than the Eagle Owl {Bubo maximus), or the Snowy 

 Owl {Surnia nyctea), in the act of chasing the 

 smaller mammals, or at rest, either in the branches 

 of the pine trees or on the rugged rocks ? Both 

 these birds, it should be remarked, are only very 

 rare stragglers to our islands. The Tawny Owl 

 {Strix aluco) may be happily introduced amongst 

 ivy ; whilst the Barn Owl [Aluco Jlammeus) is just 

 as much at home near ruins, barns, or steeples. 

 All these birds possess well-marked characteristics 

 and much contrast of colour, which not only 



