418 ULULA BRACK YOTUS. 



turnip field, but flew before I got near it, ascending to 

 a considerable height, and hovering about, very much 

 in the manner of a gull. A rook presently made up 

 to it, and endeavoured to peck at it, but the owl took 

 care to keep beyond reach, by rising in a spiral direc- 

 tion. Another rook then attacked it, and afterwards 

 two more ; but the owl still kept above them, and con- 

 tinued to ascend until it had gained a great elevation, 

 when the rooks one by one left it, and went about their 

 business. The owl sailed a long time in circles, and at 

 length flew ofi^. It was a clear sunny day, but the bird 

 seemed as little incommoded by the light as its sable 

 enemies, which it evidently excelled in its powers of 

 flight. 



Mr Low, in his Fauna Orcadensis, says it is very 

 frequent in the hills of Hoy, one of the Orkney islands, 

 where it builds its nest among the heath. " It is im- 

 pudent," he continues, " in breeding time, sometimes 

 catching up chickens from the doors. I have likewise 

 seen it in chase of pigeons in day -light, which is not 

 ordinary with the owl-kind. In a nest I found in Hoy 

 were the remains of a moor-fowl, two plovers, besides 

 the feet of several others, and the birds, two in num- 

 ber, ready to fly. The nest was in a large heath-bush, 

 made without any art ; intolerably fetid by reason of 

 the heat of the weather, which had putrified some part 

 of the provisions ; and which was still increased by the 

 dung, &c. of the birds, which the parents did not seem 

 so attentive to remove as I have observed the smaller 

 birds upon such occasions." 



Montagu states that it arrives in October and de- 

 parts in March ; '* is never observed to perch on a tree, 



