STRIGIDA. Al 
of diet:—“January, mice; February, the same; 
March, field mice; April, the same; May, the same; 
June, the same; July, mice; August, the same; 
September, field mice and shrews; October, the 
same; November, mice and black rats; December, 
mice.” There is certainly a great sameness about 
this dietary-table, but the Barn Owl does un- 
doubtedly allow himself a little more variety than 
would here appear; common rats, as well as mice 
and small birds, certainly forming a portion of his 
food at all times; and Yarrell, on the authority of a 
note in the ‘ Magazine of Natural History,’ adds fish 
to the list. He also says that this bird when satis- 
fied will hide the remains of its food, like the Kestrel 
and the Buzzard. 
The Barn Owl, it is said, screeches, but does not 
generally hoot. It is said to make no nest, but to 
deposit its eggs in the hole of a wall. 
The appearance of this bird is so well known as 
scarcely to need description. I have, however, added 
a general description from two specimens in my own 
collection, as it calls attention to a slight peculiarity 
not perhaps generally noticed. The beak is white ; 
ivides bluish black; the facial disk is white, except 
a patch of rufous before the eyes, the feathers sur- 
rounding it yellowish buff, on the under part of the 
face tipped with darkish brown ; all the upper surface 
yellow, more or less mottled with grey and white ; 
tail yellowish buff, barred with brown and tipped 
E 3 
