BARN-OAVL. 115 



found eleven eggs, but these might, perhaps, be the 

 produce of more than one bird. Incubation begins when 

 the first egg is deposited, no doubt resulting in part 

 from the fact that the old bird remains upon the nest all 

 day. Mr. John Weld (who saj^s that a few years since 

 the White Owl bred in every barn in Leagram, but has 

 now become very scarce) thinks that the last eggs are 

 hatched by the first young. The call-note is a shrill 

 whistle, for this Owl never hoots. I am able to confirm 

 in part Waterton's observation that it will sometimes 

 catch fish, for I once saw a pair flying backwards and 

 forwards over the Eibble, and repeatedly dropping on 

 to the water with a great splash, and then rising again, 

 but I could not be sure whether they were fishing or only 

 washing themselves. 



FAMILY ASIONID.E.— GENUS ASIO. 



LONG-EAEED OWL. 



Asio OTus (Linnfeus). 



Local Name — Horned Oirl. 



The Long-eared Owl is resident, but in the breeding- 

 season very local : it is probable that a partial migra- 

 tion takes place in autumn, for at that season and in 

 winter specimens have been seen and shot almost every- 

 where. Large and retired woods are its favourite 

 habitat, and in those at Knowsley its nest has been 

 several times discovered. Mr. J. J. Hornby has an egg 

 taken there in 18.80 on the 20th of March, from a nest 

 in a Scotch fir which he concluded was an old Wood- 



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