302 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



shaft Streaks. The wings and tail are barred. The bill and 

 bare toes are dark brown, the claws black at the tips, the irides 

 yellow. Length, 7-5 ins. Wings, 5*9 ins. Tarsus, -95 in. 



Eagle-Owl. Bubo bubo (Linn.). 



The Eagle- Owl (Plate 123) is a rare wanderer to Britain 

 from the mountain forests of northern Europe. Either the 

 typical bird or closely allied forms are found throughout Europe 

 and in western Asia. The northern birds migrate in winter, 

 and probably those which reach the Orkneys, Shetlands and 

 Scotland are wanderers from Scandinavia. It is doubtful if all 

 the birds which have been recorded from different parts of 

 England were really wild, for in some cases they have been 

 escaped captives, for the Eagle-Owl is a favourite aviary bird. 

 From size alone the Eagle-Owl cannot be confused with any 

 other. It has a loud distinctive and impressive call, boo^ boo^ 

 and a flight note which Col. Verner likens to the cry of the 

 Heron. Not only does it look ferocious, but it is bold and 

 fierce, often attacking its owner when in captivity. In Norway 

 I saw a bird that had been taken when in down from the nest, 

 but it not only assumed the typical terrifying attitude, but 

 made frequent dashes at the wires, striking with its feet. It 

 puffed its feathers out, framed its head in its wings, and fired 

 off a volley of loud cracks from its snapping beak, but what 

 struck me most was the scintillating flash of its great orange 

 eyes. Some years later I read Hudson's account of the 

 Magellanic Eagle-Owl which he wounded jn Patagonia. He 

 says, " The irides were of a bright orange colour, but every 

 time I attempted to approach the bird they kindled into great 

 globes of quivering yellow flame, the black pupils being sur- 

 rounded by a scintillating.crimson light which threw out minute 

 yellow sparks into the air." Had I not previously received 

 the same impression I should have thought this description 



