Their Es'C's and Nests, 6l 



-'0>Cj 



woorled countries, in the c^enuine " tu-whit-to-who-o- 

 0-0," or " hoot." The Barn Owl is the Screech Owl 

 proper, though not, in my experience, very much ad- 

 dicted to indulge in her unpleasant song. I very 

 seldom used to hear a downright good screech in those 

 old days. The Brown Owl makes its nest — at least, 

 lays its eggs — in some hollow tree, usually in a wood 

 or near one. Sometimes a few feathers or a little 

 moss may receive the eggs, often only the decayed 

 wood. I have heard of the nest of this bird in other 

 positions ; ^.^., in a deserted Crow's nest, or a hole in 

 a rocky bank. But the hollow tree is the rule. The 

 eggs are three or four in number, and larger than the 

 Barn Owl's, being about 1|§ inch long, by Ih inch 

 broad. The old birds have two or three notes besides 

 the hoot ; one being a short, rather sharp cluck, often 

 repeated. The young ones, after they fly, depend a 

 good deal on their parents' exertions for food, which 

 consists of young Rabbits, Hares, now and then birds 

 of sorts. Rats, Mice, etc. I once saw a young Brown 

 Owl, apparently waiting for its food to be brought, 

 and sitting very still on the topmost bough of a tall 

 tree, almost knocked off his perch by the whizzing 

 flight of a Wild Duck. The Owl ducked his head, or 

 I thought the Duck would have actually struck him, 

 so near was the encounter. Another, a young Brown 

 Owl of my acquaintance was decorated by its young 

 lady owner with a red knitted hood. This was not 

 forthcoming one day. But the next it reappeared. 

 The bird had swallowed it, and it was found among 

 its castings. 



