Practical Bird-Keeping .— V. Hawks and Owls. 281


given a suitable place and that a pair could be got to live together.

They should be introduced to each other in late autumn and kept

together during the winter, being turned out into their breeding

aviary early in spring. Few people, if any, have tried to breed

them, and captive Hawks are seldom in breeding condition.


The Black Kite has laid and hatched with me on several

occasions, both in a large barn and in a comparatively small

aviary, and Vultures have been known to nest not infrequently.


It is hardly necessary to add any special remarks 011 Kites

and Vultures, they are much hardier than Hawks and will live

peaceably together. Being by nature carrion-feeders they are

not nearly so particular as to their food, and it is not so important

to give them fur every week. On the other hand, they are much

more greed)' and lazy than a Hawk, and care must be taken not

to overfeed them; in other respects, if kept in the manner

described for Hawks they will thrive and in all probability breed.


II. OWLS.


Beyond the fact that the majority of Owls are raptorial

birds, they have no other claim to be considered in any article

dealing with Hawks. From their similarity of food, however,

they may be kept in confinement in a manner similar to the

diurnal birds of prey. They are not nearly so wild or so liable

to knock themselves about as Hawks, so that if necessary their

aviary may be wired at the top and sides, but we find that they

undoubtedly keep in better condition if their aviary be covered

in ; it is, however, unnecessary to have the front flap. They

must be provided with a closed-in box, having merely a large

hole by which they can enter, and the box should have the

bottom of one side hinged to facilitate cleaning out. Certain

species, such as the Eagle Owl, Short-eared Owl and several

others will not enter a box, and in these cases the front flap

should be used, but it may be permanently fixed down in order

to provide a dark retreat during the day. The feeding should be

precisely the same as for the Hawks, except that as they feed at

night it is advisable to feed them late in the afternoon and re¬

move the surplus food, if any, in the morning.



