TJieir Eggs and Nests, 63 



their young when the nest chances to have been made 

 in such a locality, and the old ones are very jealous of 

 seeing their progeny too nearly approached, and ex- 

 pose themselves almost as fearlessly on such occasions 

 as either Partridge or Grouse. Their local name of 

 Hawk Owl is derived from the circumstance that they 

 pursue their prey — regularly " hawking " for it — dur- 

 ing the day-time, and even in the brightest sunshine. 

 They are so bold during the breeding time on some 

 moors in this northern part of Yorkshire that they 

 attack and intimidate the shepherd's dogs ; so much so 

 that they are not very ready to go about their work. 

 I have the following record of one shot ofi' her nest in 

 April, 1894, near Bolton Gill, Wensleydale. The nest 

 was in the open, and made of dead grass. It contained 

 eight eggs ; besides which there were three more 

 nearly ready for extrusion. Also there were fourteen 

 or fifteen other miniature ova in the body. 



EAGLE OWL — {Bubo ignavus ; formerly, 

 B. maxiimcs). 



This noble bird, the largest in our list of British 

 Owls, is so occasionally and iriegularly seen in Britain, 

 that it can scarcely claim lengthened notice at our 

 hands. 



SCOPS EARED OWl.— {Scops Aldrovandi), 



Almost as rare as the preceding, and one of the 

 smallest of its family. From notes in my possession 

 it seems to have a kind of ventriloquial power, such 

 that, although the bird is roosting quite quietly, its 

 cry appears to come from different quarters, so as to 



