62 ACCIPITRES. 



of sticks^ lined with a few featliers. Some species, 

 however, lay their eggs in the deserted nests of other 

 birds or scrape a slight hollow on the ground in the 

 midst of heath; while the nests of others (Nydule) 

 are built of grass, and generally placed in holes or 

 clefts of pine trees. 



The typical species, — 



The Brown Owl (-S'y/rwm?;?.^Z?^<:"o), sometimes called the 

 Tawny Owl, is not uncommon in England. It is strictly 

 nocturnal ; the glare of day dazzles and renders it quite 

 liel})less, and it sliows the wisdom that might haA'e been 

 expected from the favourite of Minerva, by retreating 

 during the bright hours to the gloom of some thick wood, 

 where it rejwses among the dense foliage. In the evening, 

 liowever, it quits its concealment to satisfy its somewhat 

 indiscriminate appetite. Flitting along with noiseless 

 wing, it sui'prises the smaller quadrupeds, and even seizes 

 young rabbits and ))irds, varying this sui)per sometimes 

 with frogs, insects, and even fish, whicli it will caj^ture 

 in shallow water : it likewise will devour earthworms. 

 While engaged in its predatory excursi(ms it emits a 

 loud doleful cry, resemblmg hoo, hoo, hoo, and occasionally 

 utters a shrill scream. 



The nest of the Brown Owl is composed principally of 

 the dried pellets of undigested bones and fur or feathers, 

 which all Owls are in the habit of disgorging. It is 

 usually placed in a hollow tree, and here the female lays 

 about four eggs, from which emerge, in due time, as 

 many grotesque- looking bodies, enveloped in a soft j^lush, 

 which are destined, in time, to become Brown Owls. 

 The eggs are of large size, measuring nearly two inches 

 in length by an inch and a half in their transverse 

 diameter. They are equally round at both ends, and 

 perfectly white. The females begin to sit as soon as 

 they have laid their first egg ; so that the nestlings are 

 usually of different ages. The parent birds attend upon 

 their brood with great assiduity, and supply them plenti- 

 fully with mice, shrews, moles, and the young of various 

 other quadrupeds. 



The nestlings of the Brown Owl are easily brought up 

 by hand, and are very useful in barns and granaries, 

 being most excellent mousers. 



