COMMON WOOD-OWL. 375 



The young are at first of a dull yellowish-grey colour. 

 The Rev. Mr W. T. Bree states in Loudon's Magazine, 

 vol. i. p. 179, that this bird is in the habit of feeding 

 its young with live fish. " Some years since several 

 young owls were taken from the nest, and placed in a 

 yew tree in the rectory garden here ( Allesley Rectory, 

 near Coventry). In this situation the parent birds re- 

 peatedly brought them live fish, bull-heads (Cottus Go- 

 bio) and loch (or loach, Cobites barbatula), which had 

 doubtless been procured from the neighbouring brook, 

 in which these species abound. Since the above period, 

 I have, on more than one occasion, found the same fish, 

 either whole or in fragments, lying under the trees on 

 which I have observed the young owls to perch after 

 they have left the nest, and where the old birds were ac- 

 customed to feed them." Mr Bree having invited the 

 readers of the Magazine to endeavour to explain in 

 what manner the owl contrives to capture fish, a Nor- 

 folk correspondent " humbly suggests the probability 

 of there being a luminous appearance in the eyes of 

 the owl, by which the fish are enticed within the reach 

 of its beak or claws. Fishing by torch-light," he con- 

 tinues, " is practised in some countries : is it likely that 

 it could have derived its origin from a consideration of 

 this kind ?" Not in the least. 



Progress towards maturity — The young birds 

 of both sexes after their first moult resemble the old ; 

 in other words, there is very little difference in the co- 

 lours of the young and the adult ; but at a certain age, 

 not yet determined by observation, the colours become 

 different, and such as I have already described. Iii 



