124 



TIIE FEATHERED TRIBES. 



England. It inhabits clefts of the rocks or deserted buOdiugs in the mountains, and 

 rarely descends into the plams. Occasionally flying abroad in the day-time, it preys 

 most in the dusk, and feeds not only on mice, rats, and moles, but even on yoimg 

 rabbits, hares, and fa-\vns. 



M. Cronstadt has recorded a pleasing instance of the attachment of these birds to their 

 yomig. This gentleman resided several years on a farm in Sudermauia, near a steep 

 mountain, on the su mmi t of which two eagle owls had their nest. One day in the month 

 of July, a yoimg one, havmg quitted the nest, was seized by some of his servants. 

 This bird, after it was caught, was shut up in a large hen-coop ; and the next morning 

 M. Cronstadt found a young partridge lying dead before the door of the coop. He 

 immediately concluded that this provision had been brought thither by the old owls, 

 wliich he supposed had been making search m the night-time for their lost young one, 

 and had been led to the place of its confinement by its cry. This proved to have been 

 the case, by the same mark of attention being repeated for fourteen successive nights. 

 The game which the old ones carried to it consisted principally of young partridges, for 

 the most part newly killed, but sometimes a little spoiled. One day a moor-fowl was 

 brought, so fresh, that it was still warm under the wings. A putrid lamb was also 

 foimd at another tune, probably what had been spoiled by lying too long in the nest of 

 the old owls ; and it is supposed that they brought it merely because they had no 

 better provision at the time. M. Cronstadt and his servant watched at a window 

 several nights, that they might observe, if possible, when this supply was deposited. 

 Their plan did not succeed ; but it appeared that these owls, which are very shari> 

 sighted, had discovered the moment when the windows were not watched ; as food was 

 found to have been deposited for the young before the coop one night when this had 

 been the case. 



In the month of August the parents discontinued this attendance ; but at that period 

 all birds of prey abandon their young to their own exertions. From this instance it 

 may be readily concluded how great a quantity of game must be destroyed by a pair 

 of these owls during the time they employ in rearing their young. And as the edible 

 species of forest animals repair chiefly in the evening to the fields, they are particularly 

 exposed to the acute sight, smell, and claw of the birds of the night. 



" An eagle owl, in my possession," says a natui-ahst, " remains quiet during the day, 

 unless he is shown some prey, when he becomes eager to possess it ; and, when it is put 

 within his reach, at once clutches it, and retires to a corner to devour at leisure. 

 During night he is extremely active, and sometimes keeps uj) an incessant bark. It is 

 so similar to that of a cur, or terrier, as to annoy a large Labrador house-dog, who 

 expresses his dissatisfaction by replying to him, and disturbing the inmates nightly. I 

 at first mistook the cry also for that of a dog, and, without any recollection of the 

 owl, sallied forth to destroy this disturber of our repose ; and it was not imtil tracing 

 the sound to the cage, that I became satisfied of the author of the annoyance. I liave 

 remarked that he barks more incessantly during a clear winter night than at any otiier 

 time, and the thin air at that season makes the cry very distinctly heard to a consider- 

 able distance. This bird also shows a great antipathy to dogs, and will perceive one at 

 a considerable distance ; nor is it possible to distract his attention so long as the animal 

 remains in sight. When first perceived, the feathers are raised, and the wings lowered, 

 aa when feeding, and the head moved niuiid, following the object while in sight ; if food 

 is thrown, it will be struck with the foot, and held, but no further attention paid to it. 



