402 CORACIIFORMES CHAP. 
simply deposit their eggs on the débris naturally found in 
cavities. 
To descend to a few particulars, the Snowy and Short-eared 
Owls, certain other species of Asio, and in some cases the Eagle- 
Owls (Lubo) breed upon the ground, often near some sheltering 
tuft, and use little or no bedding ; Speotyto collects a mass of grass, 
dry leaves, feathers, and rubbish in burrows; the Wood-Owls 
(Syrnium), the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), and several other 
forms utilize deserted nests of Pies, Crows, Squirrels, and the like, 
commonly adding a fresh lining; the first-named alternatively 
choose holes in trees or in the ground; while Carine glaux has been 
known to breed in ant-hills. The Screech-Owl (Séria:) and most 
of the smaller members of the Family deposit their eggs in 
crevices in rocks or banks, in natural cavities in trees, or even at 
the junction of two large branches; towers, lofts, dovecots, and 
belfries being well-known sites for the former. Apparently none 
of the above excavate their own holes in the wood, or do more 
than clear them out; a few, however, decorate the nests they 
usurp with green foliage, as do so many Buzzards and Eagles. The 
habits sometimes undergo a decided change, as when the Shert- 
eared Owl in the Aleutian Islands, and the Sereech-Owl in Texas 
and India take to fairly deep burrows. 
The Strigidae are exceptionally early breeders; for instance, 
Long-eared Owls’ eggs have been found in England at the end of 
February, and those of Bubo virginianus in that month in the 
United States; it is true the Screech-Owl is later in this country, 
but this does not seem to be the case with its American race. 
Where fresh sets are found late in the year, the first have gener- 
ally been destroyed, and a second brood is uncommon, though the 
contrary holds true during vole- or lemming-plagues, when food is 
unusually abundant ; at such times, moreover, the number of eggs 1s 
abnormally large for the species. The usual tale varies from two 
to ten, while the bigger forms as a rule do not deposit so many. 
Much has been made of the fact that the Screech-Owl (with the 
Eagle-Owl and other forms) lays at considerable intervals of time ; 
but this 1s certainly not always true, and in many cases the vary- 
ing size of the embryo is easily accounted for by supposing the 
parent to sit as soon as the first ege is deposited. On the other 
hand, occasional breaks certainly occur in the laying, and pairs of 
egos are often produced almost simultaneously ; yet the bird has 
