466 ASIO BRACHYOTUS. 



and departs at the same time with that bird, in March ; whence 

 its name of Woodcock Owl. With us this bird is observed 

 never to perch on a tree, but generally hides itself in long 

 grass, fern, or the like ; and seems partial to open, barren si- 

 tuations. When disturbed it flies a little way, and lights again 

 on the ground. In dusky weather it will prey by day, and 

 sometimes fly at small birds as well as mice. It is a bold bird, 

 but seems contented in confinement. One which was taken in 

 a lark-net became tolerably tame in a few months, and when 

 hungry would take food from the hand. It was mostly fed 

 with small birds and mice, but would eat any raw meat, which 

 it first took in its bill, and immediately placed in its talons, 

 and devoured it by piecemeal. When it was asleep or undis- 

 turbed the aurated feathers were very distinguishable, standing 

 above the rest about half an inch ; but on its being disturbed 

 they were instantly depressed, and the head apparently enlarg- 

 ed by the feathers round the face being somewhat raised."" 



Since Montagu's time, however, it has been found breeding 

 in England. The late Mr Hoy, an enthusiastic observer of 

 birds, says in Mr Loudon's Magazine, " I am acquainted with 

 two localities in the south-western part of Norfolk, where pairs 

 of this bird breed ; and I have known several instances of their 

 eggs and young being found. One situation is on a dry heathy 

 soil, the nest placed on the ground amongst high heath ; the 

 other in low fenny ground, among sedge and rushes." Sir 

 William Jardine has also found it breeding in Dumfriesshire. 

 Two nests which he discovered on an upland moor, and which 

 contained five eggs, " were formed upon the ground among the 

 heath ; the bottom of the nest scraped until the fresh earth 

 appeared, on which the eggs were placed, without any lining 

 or other accessory covering. When approaching the nest or 

 young, the old birds fly or hover around, uttering a shrill cry, 

 and snapping with their bills. They will then alight at a short 

 distance, survey the aggressor, and again resume their flight 

 and cries. The young are barely able to fly by the 12th of 

 August, and appear to leave the nest some time before they 

 are able to rise from the ground." Mr Low, in his Fauna 

 Orcadensis, says, " It is very frequent in the hills of Hoy, and 



