8o Allen's naturalist's library. 



Burkitt, as shot in Co. Waterford on the 27th of January, 

 185 1, after being ascribed to B. virgimatms, proved on examina- 

 tion to be the South African Bubo maculosus, and was doubt- 

 less of the same origin as the Gold-vented Bulbul, Pyciioiiotus 

 capensis (see A^ol. I., p. 318). 



Range outside the British Islands. — Generally distributed through- 

 out Europe and Northern Africa, being replaced in Central 

 Asia by Bicho furconiamis, a pale form which extends west- 

 wards into South-eastern Russia, and which has occurred in 

 the Himalayas. The typical form is said to re-occur in 

 Eastern Siberia and Corea, and to extend to China, and a 

 specimen from the Goto Islands, about fifty miles to the west 

 of Nagasaki, is in the Norwich Museum. So far as is known 

 the Eagle-Owl has never occurred in the Japanese Islands, the 

 bird so identified having proved to be Bubo blakistoiii^ which 

 also inhabits Corea and North-eastern Siberia. 



Hahits. — The Eagle-Owl is one of the largest and one of the 

 most ferocious of all the nocturnal Birds of Prey, and even in 

 confinement has been known to attack its owner without any 

 provocation. It creates great havoc among the larger game, 

 and devours not only Grouse, but Rabbits and Hares, as well 

 as Pheasants and Partridges. Mr. Seebohm states that in the 

 northern forests it also feeds upon Crows and Jays, as well as 

 devouring mice and rats. 



The Eagle-Owl breeds early, laying its eggs in March or in 

 the beginning of April, and generally selects the old nest of 

 some other bird. It sometimes chooses the hole of a tree, but 

 not unfrequently nests on the ground or usually on the ledge 

 of a rock. 



Although this fine Owl generally hunts by night, it is not much 

 disturbed by the daylight, and is able to take excellent care of 

 itself, while the nest is often in an exposed situation, in the full 

 glare of the light. Several observers who have tried to shoot the 

 parent birds at the nest, admit that this is nearly impossible to 

 do, as the birds appear to notice the intruder, however care- 

 fully concealed. 



Nest. — None to speak of, and sometimes consisting merely 

 of a slight hollow in the ground. The young are often found 



