72 BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



Motet . /.' i ted. — Decayed wood, ejected pellets, and cast-off feathers. 



Eggs. — Three or Four. White; pointed; 1.6 by 1.25 inch. Two 

 - are laid first, and then a second clutch, eggs and young 

 ten being found in the nest together. 



Food. — Rats, mice, moles, shrews, birds, fish, and beetles. 



Voice. -Hisses, hoots, screams, and snores. Snaps the bill angrilv. 



Chief Features. — The white and mottled plumage at once idem 



this Owl. It has, like its relatives, a silent flight, and is, of course, 

 nocturnal. Should be highly encouraged, as it is a distinctly 

 useful species. Casts up, like other Owls, the indigestible 

 portions of food in the form of pellets. 



Plumage. — Yellowish-white beak; above it is tawny-yellow, varie- 

 gated with brown, grey, and white; white on face and lower 

 parts, with the margin feathers tipped with brown. Length. — 

 Fourteen inches. 



OWL, LITTLE (Athene noctua) 



Local Xames. — None. 



Haunt. — Woods. 



Nesting Period. — Mid-April to mid-May. 



Site of Xest. — Hollow trees, and seems to prefer in England a 

 pollarded willow. 



Materials Used. — None, excepting materials which accumulate as 

 in case of other species. 

 . — Four to Six. White; oval; 1.3 by 1.4 inch. 



Food. — Mice, small birds, and large insects. 



Voice. — Something like that of the Lapwing or Peewit, but shriller. 

 Seebohm compares it to " cuc-koo-vah'-ee, cuc-koo-vah'-ee." 



Chief Features. — Introduced into this country by Charles Waterton 

 in 1843, and by several other naturalists since, this little species 

 has increased its range of recent years, and is now rightly 

 regarded as a British bird. The small size at once identities it. 

 It is diurnal as much as it is nocturnal. 



Plumage. — Brown, streaked with white above; face white; under 

 surface same colour, banded with brown; breast and abdomen 

 streaked with brown, also under tail-coverts; yellow bill, with 

 a green tinge; feet greyish-yellow; iris yellow. Length. — 

 Eleven and a half inches. Female a trifle smaller. 



OWL, LONG-EARED (Asia otus) 



Local Xames. — Horn Owl, Howlet, Long-Horned Owl. 

 flaunt. — Woods and parks. 



ting Period. — March and April. 

 Site of Xest. — Most observers state that this Owl never builds a 



