VOL. IX.] NOTES ON A LONG-EARED OWL. 59 



or failing that, the platform nest of a Wood-Pigeon 

 will serve its purpose, for in any case it is not a great 

 nest-builder. A wood entirely without fir-trees is at no 

 time to the liking of a Long-eared Owl, but wherever 

 the nest may be it is sure to be better kept than the 

 Barn-Owl's dirty nursery, where eggs and young birds 

 and pellets are all mixed up together. 



On the present occasion the nest, which held five 

 unsulhed eggs, was in the middle of a small plantation 

 on the marsh, and was arched over and partly concealed 

 by a growth of brambles. We both at once observed 

 that the hen Owl was sitting with both " horns " erect, 

 ^^hich gave her the appearance, as Mr. Long remarked, 

 of a leveret. 



The eggs were deposited on oak leaves, which in the 

 keeper's opinion were not gathered by the Owl, but 

 were lying almost where they fell. The sitting Owl 

 had caused a slight depression, but I could not see if 

 there was any down beneath the eggs, which we hardly 

 liked to lift. A few Blackbird's and Thrush's feathers 

 dropped among the brambles indicated the food which 

 the cock Owl had been bringing to his mate. The cock 

 was about fifteen yards away, keeping guard in a small 

 spruce-fir, where he seemed to be dozing, in a very stiff 

 and uncomfortable position, and he also had both 

 " horns," if the erectile ear-tufts may be so termed, 

 erect. This may have been because he had heard us 

 coming, for Mr. Walpole Bond, who has written a very 

 exact account of the Long-eared Owl [The Field, 

 Nov. 4th, 1905), says it is not a usual habit unless the 

 Owl is surprised. 



Beneath the spruce lay several pellets, apparently 

 composed of the fur and bones of voles. J.H.G. 



On April 6th this nest of the Long-eared Owl contained 

 three eggs. There were four on the 8th and five on the 

 10th, so that the eggs would appear to be laid at an 

 interval of two daj^s. 



