GREAT EAGLE-OWL. 433 



and birds, especially hares and grouse, forms a bulky nest, 

 which is generally placed on a rock or on the ground, and de- 

 posits two or three broadly elliptical, white eggs. 



The Bishop of Norwich, in speaking of the attachment of 

 Owls to their young, relates the following instance, witnessed 

 by a Swedish gentleman, who resided several years near a steep 

 mountain, on the summit of which two Eagle-Owls had built 

 their nest. One day, in July, a young bird, nearly fledged, 

 was caught by the servants, and shut up in a large hen-coop. 

 On the following morning a young partridge was found lying 

 dead near the door of the coop ; and night after night, for four- 

 teen days, the same mark of attention was repeated. The gen- 

 tleman and his servant watched several nights, in order that 

 they might observe through a window, when and how this sup- 

 ply was brought ; but in vain, although there could be no doubt 

 that the parents of the bird were the caterers. 



The one which I kept alive for some time, generally perched 

 on the highest place it could find, inserting the tips of the first 

 and fourth claws behind, the rest before. On a flat surface 

 however the outer toe was not directed backwards, but out- 

 wards, and the claws extended. It generally rested the whole 

 tarsus, and sometimes stood on one foot. When sleeping, it 

 kept its feathers close, its neck erect, and the tufts on the head 

 usually raised. It seemed incapable of walking, and in shift- 

 ing its place leaped, assisted by its wings. When alarmed, or 

 irritated, it raised its feathers, depressed its head, stared with 

 expanded pupils, hissed at intervals like a cat, and snapped its 

 bill. 



The eyes reflected no light in the dark or twilight. When 

 irritated or looking intently on an object, it dilated the pupil, 

 and when listless or dozing with half-closed eyes, contracted it. 

 The iris exhibited the most delicate mobility, and was conti- 

 nually expanding or contracting. It frequently drew the nicti- 

 tant membrane over the eye, generally employing both mem- 

 branes simultaneously, but at times only one. Sometimes also 

 it moved the upper eyelid of one eye while the other remained 

 drawn up. When it was asleep, the upper eyelid covered more 

 than two-thirds of the eye. 



VOL. III. F F 



