64 ACCIPITRES. 



the thatcli of barns, or in the hollows of trees. The 

 female lays from two to five eggs. 



The t}qie of this sub-family is — 



Tlie Barn Owl {Strix^ Jiammea), sometimes called the 

 Scrp,ec]i Owl^ commonly met with in the British islands 

 and generally throughont the Eastern hemisphere. It 

 is from fonrteen to fifteen inches in length, the females 

 being slightly larger than the males. The Barn Owl 

 approaches boldly to the dwelling-places of man, and 

 seeks for food in the midst of towns and villages, and in 

 the cultivated fields surrounding them. His chosen 

 abode is some dark hole or corner of an old building, the 

 tower of a church, or the roof of a barn, or sometimes a 

 hollow tree. In this retreat he dozes away the bright 

 hours, and if driven from his concealment in the day- 

 time, is so dazzled by the light as to be quite bewildered 

 and helpless. As evening approaches, his sight becomes 

 keen enough, and he glides out on noiseless pinions 

 in search of prey. He may then be seen dashing round 

 the stacks and buildings in the farm-yard, or skimmmg 

 over the fields and along the hedgerows, in pursuit of 

 small animals that are abroad at night. While thus 

 upon the wmg, he drops suddenly down upon his prey, 

 seizes it in his claws, and uttering a loud cry or screech, 

 flies off with it to his nest. In this way rats, mice, and 

 small animals of all kinds, including young hares and 

 rabl)its, are captured by this nocturnal marauder. The 

 Barn Owl also destroys larks and other small birds, and 

 often catches the moths and beetles so abundant during 

 summer evenings. His principal food, however, consists 

 of mice, which abound in stackyards and cornfields. 

 These are swallowed whole, their bones and other in- 

 digestible parts being disgorged as pellets, which accumu- 

 late in the roosting-place of their destroyer. The benefits 

 these birds confer upon the farmer by destroying vermin 

 are therefore considerable The nest consists of sticks 

 and straws, and the number of eggs varies from two 

 to five. 



*'(Trpr/?, strinx, an owl. 



