OWLS. 329 



happen accidentally to appear in open day, they seem 

 bewildered, and are usually assailed by various species 

 of small birds, which gatlier round and insult them. 

 They utter a harsh disagreeable scream when flying at 

 night, and some species emit sounds which are denoted 

 by the term hooting. 



Their nest is rude, generally composed of grass and 

 twigs, with a lining of wool, feathers, or other soft ma- 

 terials ; or the deserted nest of a crow is adopted. The 

 eggs are remarkably round, always white, and vary in 

 number, according to the species, from two to four. 

 The nest is placed in the hollow of a tree, in the cavi- 

 ties of ruins or rocks, and sometimes in outbuildings, 

 steeples, pigeon-houses, or on the ground. They nestle 

 at a very early period. The young, which are at first 

 covered with thick, soft down, remain long in the nest, 

 and when able to shift for themselves are driven off. 



The annual substitution of new for the old plumage 

 is always very gradual. The feathers suffer much less 

 by friction than those of most other birds, and the co- 

 louring remains almost unimpaired to the last. The 

 young differ very little in colour from the adult ; but 

 the older the individual becomes, the more simple is 

 the colouring ; the dark markings diminish in extent, 

 and the finer mottlings are gradually obliterated. 



There is no partial moult, or temporary appearance 

 of feathers on particular parts ; those species which 

 have tufts on the head, retaining them at all seasons. 

 These tufts have absurdly been named horns and ears. 



Owls thrive well in captivity, and may be tamed in 

 a great degree ; but from their habits they have never, 



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