Montagu's haerier. 43 



habits. On the Continent, especially in Holland, it is 

 more frequent. It received its name in honoui- of Colonel 

 Montagu, who was the first to ascertain the identity of the 

 Hen Harrier and Ringtail, and to separate the present 

 species from both. 



EAGLE OWL. 



BUBO MAXIMUS. 



Bill bluish black, lighter toM'ards the base ; iris orange ; upper parts mottled 

 with black, brown, and ochre yellow ; under parts ochre yellow, with longitu- 

 dinal dark stripes ; throat white ; claws bluish black. Female somewhat 

 larger than the male, but wants the white spot on the throat. Length twenty- 

 fom- inches ; breadth fifty-eight inches. Eggs white. 



The Owls have in most ages been classed by the igno- 

 rant among birds of evil omen. Yet it is a question 

 whether any one encountering an Owl for the first time, 

 and as an unknown bird, would have any other feeling 

 excited in liim save that of the ludicrous. Its upright 

 posture, round flat face, strangely set ears, or horns, as we 

 may choose to call them, large, staring eyes always turned 

 to the spectator with such unmeaning solemnity, are irre- 

 sistibly comical ; and one's merriment is increased by the 

 absence of all sympathy in the bird, which, in spite of its 

 human cast of features, is neither angered nor amused by 

 our laughter, but retains the same grave expression, making 

 no sign of response. It was probably on account of its 

 grave looks and seeming power of abstraction that the 

 Owl was dedicated by the Greeks to the goddess Minerva, 

 and honoured as the Bird of Wisdom. 



Pre-eminent among the European Owls is that which 

 from its superior size and strength is called the Eagle-Owl, 

 and in France Grand Due; the latter name been given 

 to it, it is said, from an ancient popular belief that it acted 

 twice a year as leader or guide, Due, to the flocks of Quails 

 at their periods of migration. It must, however, have 



