4 NOTES FROM NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK. 



partner, so engaged in a series of combats with the Long-Eared 

 Owl, driving him about until he was compelled to take refuge 

 by squeezing himself between the top of the nesting-box and 

 roof of the cage. He seemed so intimidated by the fierce onsets 

 of its smaller foe that he did not dare to leave even to get his 

 food, so I relieved him of his anxiety, and let the pair have the 

 cage entirely to themselves. I placed the first egg by the side 

 of the other in the nest. The female seemed very busy in her 

 nest for a short time, occasionally leaving and returning. Some- 

 times the pair were at home ; the male generally kept guard, 

 however, on a branch just outside, and would dart at any intruder 

 with fury. On May 23rd, during the latter part of the day, the 

 female kept closer to her nest, and in the evening deposited her 

 third egg. On May 24th, as I entered the cage, the male bird 

 flew into the box and barred the entrance by showing fight, and 

 on removing him I found the female sitting hard on her three 

 eggs, and unwilling to move when I touched her. On May 25th 

 the female was sitting close, and left the nest a few minutes only 

 in the evening. On the morning of May 26th I looked into the 

 nest, expecting to find the fourth egg, but was disappointed ; the 

 female still sat close. She came o£f the eggs for a short time in 

 the evening, the cock bird being as pugnacious as ever. The 

 fourth egg was laid about 9 p.m. On May 27th the hen was 

 sitting close, the cock carrying her food, which he placed in the 

 box by her side. On May 28th she was still busy in keeping her 

 eggs warm, leaving for a few minutes in the evening to stretch 

 her wings and legs, the male supplying food as usual. May 

 29th to 31st no change in the position of affairs. And from 

 June 1st to 17th the male kept his watch as usual, the female 

 only leaving for a few minutes in the evening either to procure 

 food or to expand her pinions, until June 17th, when, about 

 9 p.m. an usual commotion was caused by the female bird on 

 the nest. She emitted a low, chuckling noise for upwards of 

 half an hour. The male, meaiiwhile, was flying to and from his 

 perch to the nest in an agitated manner. On the following 

 morning, June 18th, I found the first young bird had been hatched 

 during the preceding evening, hence the agitation of the parents. 

 I lifted the box from the nail very carefully, and, having re- 

 moved the cock (he having flown in as usual at my entrance to 

 the Cage), the female allowed me to lift her from the nest to the 



