r | 
q 
188 BRITISH BIRDS. 
to North-east Africa*. Loche, however, records it as common in Algeria, 
especially in the mountains and forests, where it breeds. 
As its range extends eastwards the Eagle Owl becomes larger and paler— 
examples from the Volga and Archangel gradually leading on to the 
Arctic form, which has received the name of B. sibiricus +. This sub- 
species inhabits Siberia, extending its range southwards to Persia, Tur- 
kestan, Afghanistan, the Himalayas, and probably Mongolia. In the valley 
of the Amoor the colour again becomes more rufous, until in Japan and 
China the typical European bird reappears. The Arctic form has not 
occurred in the British Islands. 
Ou the American continent the Eagle peel; is replaced by a nearly allied 
species, B. virginianus, a bird of very similar habits, and differing from the 
Old-World form in being smaller (length of wing not exceeding 16 inches). 
Like the Eagle Owl, it appears to be subject to much climatic variation ; 
and Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway separate it into no less than 
four subspecies or races. 
The Eagle Owl is one of the most powerful of rapacious birds, and is 
principally nocturnal in its habits ; but when disturbed in the daytime it 
seems little troubled by the light, and is extremely shy and difficult to 
approach. As with most of the nocturnal birds of prey, we know but little 
of the habits of this species. It usually remains in its retreat in some 
secluded rocky pass, or in the depths of the forest, throughout the day, 
coming out in the dusk in quest of food. Its flight is powerful, yet, like 
all Owls, almost noiseless, so that it drops upon its prey completely un- 
awares. Its deep, loud, hooting cry, sounding strangely weird and startling 
in the dark and silent woods, or when the bird is passing overhead, is 
well calculated to inspire the superstitious natives with awe ; and no wonder 
the bird figures so prominently in the various native legends as a bird of 
doom and death. Except in the pairing-season, it is said to rarely utter 
its note, which resembles the syllables 00-hoo modulated in various ways. 
Few rapacious birds are so destructive to large game as the Eagle Owl. 
Even the powerful Capercailsie, the Blackcock, and the Hazel-Grouse are 
* In North Africa a nearly allied bird occurs, Bubo ascalaphus, which may have been 
possibly confused with, or mistaken for, the present species. 
+ The synonymy of the Arctic form of this Owl is as under :— 
Asio bubo laponicus, Briss, Orn, i. p. 486 (1760). 
Strix scandiaca, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 132 (1766). 
Bubo albus, Daud. Traité, ii. p. 210 (1800). 
Strix turcomana, Lversm. Add. Pall. Zoogr. fase. i. p. 3 (1835). 
Strix sibirica, Susem. Vog. Eur. pl. xliy. (18438). 
Bubo cinereus, Eversm. fide Gray, Gen. B. i. pl. xiii. (1845). 
Bubo sibiricus (Schleg.), Gray, Cat. Accipitr. Brit. Mus. p, 99 (1848). 
Bubo scandiacus (Linn.), Cab. Journ. Orn. 1854, p. 367. 
Bubo pallidus, Brehm, Naum. 1855, p. 270 
Bubo hemachalana, Hume, Stray Feath. 1873, p. 315. 
