282 BARN-OWL. 



of Germany it is fairly numerous, though somewhat local in its dis- 

 tribution ; and throughout Western Europe it is a well-known species. 

 It is found in the Azores, Madeira, the Canaries, and the Cape Verd 

 Islands, also in Northern Africa to Egypt, and in Palestine ; in 

 the north-eastern portion of the Mediterranean basin, however, it is 

 seldom met with, although occurring in Mesopotamia and down to 

 the head of the Persian Gulf. Over the above-mentioned area both 

 light and dark phases are found; and, making allowance for climatic 

 varieties which Mr. R. B. Sharpe and other authorities do not 

 consider entitled to specific distinction, this Owl may be described as 

 ranging over the African region inclusive of Madagascar, the Indian, 

 Malayasian, Australian and Polynesian regions, and throughout 

 America and its islands from about 40° N. lat. to 40° S. lat. 



The Barn-Owl takes up its abode in church-towers and belfries, 

 farm- and other buildings, hollow trees, dovecotes, and clefts in walls 

 or cliffs. It makes no nest, though its castings may be found round 

 the eggs, sometimes laid in pairs ; six, nearly fresh, have been found 

 alongside of three nestlings, while two or three distinct stages of the 

 latter are not unknown. Incubation, which occasionally begins 

 about the end of April, but usually in May, has been known to take 

 place up to November and December. The eggs are dull white : 

 average measurements i'6 by i"2 in. There is no evidence that this 

 species does any harm to eggs or pigeons in the dovecotes which it 

 often inhabits, and it feeds chiefly on field-mice, thereby entitling 

 itself to protection on the part of the agriculturist ; it also eats rats, 

 shrews, bats, small birds, insects, and occasionally small surface-fre- 

 quenting fish. During the daytime the Barn-Owl generally remains 

 concealed, though when disturbed I have seen it flitting in no 

 uncertain manner in the brilliant sunshine of the south; but it seeks 

 its food in the dusk of evening and at nights. Its cry is a loud 

 weird shriek, and a snoring sound is emitted by young and old. 



In the adult male the upper parts are orange-buff, minutely varie- 

 gated with brown, grey and white ; facial disk white with a brownish 

 rim ; under parts white. In the dark form the upper parts are grey, 

 with darker spots and vermiculations ; the facial disk is tinged 

 with orange, and the rim is blackish ; the under parts are warm 

 orange-buff with clearly-defined blackish-grey spots. Bill white ; 

 operculum (or skin which covers the orifice of the ear) large ; 

 legs covered with white hair-like feathers. Length i3in. ; wing 

 1 1 '2 in. The female is slightly larger than the male. The young 

 bird, at first covered with white down, hardly differs from the adult 

 in its feathered plumage. 



