396 STRIX FLAMMEA. 



Propagation. — The Barn Owl nestles in old build- 

 ings, churches, or barns, sometimes among ivy on old 

 walls, in the crevice of a rock, or in the hollow of a 

 tree. The nest is composed of twigs and straws rude- 

 ly put together. The eggs, which are four or five, are 

 of a roundish form, smooth, pure white, an inch and a 

 half or a little more in length, and about an inch and a 

 quarter across. 



The young, which are at first covered with white 

 down, are very voracious, and, according to authors, 

 are long before they are able to fly. It would appear 

 that this species has several broods in the year, for I 

 have had the young fully fledged in the end of June, 

 and nests with eggs have been found very late in au- 

 tumn. 



Young fledged. — Bill and inside of the mouth pale 

 flesh-colour ; iris black ; scutella and claws pale pur- 

 plish-brown. The inner edge of the claw of the mid- 

 dle toe, which is at first entire, is at this period marked 

 with several transverse slits towards the end. It may 

 here be remarked, that the young of the gannet, until 

 able to fly, have the edge of the same claw, as well as 

 the edges of the bill, entire, whereas they are serrate 

 in the adult. It would, therefore, be interesting to ob- 

 serve the claws at diff^erent periods in those birds which 

 have them serrate or pectinate. The facial disks are 

 dull white, with an orange-brown spot before the eye ; 

 the ruff^ white, its tips at the lower part reddish. The 

 general colour of the upper parts is pale reddish-yellow, 

 mottled with grey and brown, in the same manner as 

 in the adult ; the quills and tail of a lighter yellow, 



