EAGLE-OWL, 171 



in Algeria, but whether it breeds there has not been re- 

 corded. It does not seem to occur in Sardinia, though not 

 uncommon in Sicily. 



It is well known as a species here, being constantly exhi- 

 bited in various menageries, where, except during the pairing 

 season, when its peculiar hoot may often be heard, it is 

 mostly quiet, uttering no sound but an occasional sharp and 

 snapping noise made with the bill. It has been known to 

 live to a great age, and has bred in confinement at Arundel 

 Castle, and elsewhere. Mr. Edward Fountaine, who has been 

 remarkably successful in his treatment of birds of this family, 

 has for some years kept many Eagle-Owls at Eastou near 

 Norwich, the majority having been reared in his aviaries, 

 and as some of them were hatched from eggs laid by birds 

 bred by him, he may be considered to have, in some degree, 

 domesticated the species. 



The foregoing figure was taken from a bird in the garden of 

 the Zoological Society, and the following description from spe- 

 cimens formerly in its museum. The beak is nearly black, the 

 base hidden by the radiating feathers of the facial disk ; irides 

 bright orange ; the tufts on the head contain seven or eight 

 dark-coloured feathers, with light brown bars on the inner 

 webs ; the head, neck and back, a mixture of reddish- 

 brown and dark brown, the darker colour occupying the 

 middle of each feather, forming streaks, the other parts of 

 the web mottled ; primaries and tail above similar in colour, 

 Init barred transversely ; the feathers of the facial disk light 

 brown speckled with greyish-black, those under the disk 

 white ; breast pale brown, with longitudinal patches of dark 

 brown ; belly, under tail-coverts, thighs, legs and toes, pale 

 brown, with numerous narrow transverse bars of dark brown ; 

 tail beneath dusky brown, barred with pale brown ; ctaws 

 black. The whole length from twenty-four to twenty-eight 

 inches, the difference depending upon sex. 



In the older nestlings described by Linnaeus the bill was 

 black ; irides saff'ron-yellow ; pupil bluish-black ; the general 

 plumage soft ; the wings dark, with reddish-brown spots ; 

 feathers of the l)reast brick-red, Avith a dark indented longi- 



