146 THE TAWNY OWL 



into the channel for conveying sound is, in the right ear, placed 

 benc'xth the transverse fold, and directed upwards, while in the left 

 ear the same opening is placed above the channel for conveying 

 sound, and is directed doivnwards. 



In the severe weather of January, 1861, I had the gratification 

 of seeing three or four of these Owls among the sand-hills of the coast 

 of Norfolk, near Holkham. I imagined them to be in pursuit of 

 the Redwings and other small birds which had been driven by the 

 intense cold to the sea-coast, since they flew about as Hawks do 

 when hunting for prey, and occasionally alighted among the sand- 

 hills. I even fell in with several heaps of feathers, showing where 

 some unhappy bird had been picked and eaten. A few days after- 

 wards, however, I inquired at another part of the coast whether 

 there were any Owls there, and received for an answer, ' No, be- 

 cause there are no Rabbits ' ; from which I inferred that these birds 

 have the reputation of hunting larger game than Thrushes, a charge 

 which the size and power of their hooked talons seem to justify. 



THE TAWNY OWL 



SYRNIUM ALUCO 



Beak greyish yellow ; irides bluish dusky ; upper parts reddish brown, vari- 

 ously marked and spotted with dark brown, black, and grey ; large white 

 spots on the scapulars and wing coverts ; primaries and tail feathers 

 barred alternately witji dark and reddish brown ; lower parts reddish 

 white, with transverse brown. bars and longitudinal dusky streaks ; legs 

 feathered to the claws. Length sixteen inches ; breadth three feet. 

 Eggs dull white. 



This bird, the Ulula of the ancients, took its name from the Latin 

 ululare ; the word used to denote, and partially to imitate, the 

 cry of the wolf ; it enjoys also the doubtful honour of giving name 

 to the whole tribe of ' Owls ', whether they howl, hoot, or screech. 

 This species is much more common than the Barn Owl in many 

 districts, although it is decreasing in others. Owing to its nocturnal 

 habits, and dusky colour, it is not so often seen as heard. It has 

 many a time been my amusement to repair, towards the close of 

 a summer evening, to a wood which I knew to be the resort of these 

 birds, and to challenge them to an exchange of greetings, and I 

 rarely failed to succeed. Their note may be imitated so exactly 

 as to deceive even the birds themselves, by forming a hoUow with 

 the fingers and palms of the two hands, leaving an opening only 

 between the second joints of the two thumbs, and then by blowing 

 with considerable force down upon the opening thus made, so as 

 to produce the sound hoo-hoo-hoo-0-0-0. I have thus induced a 

 bird to follow me for some distance, echoing my defiance or greet- 



