46 BIRDS OF FRF.Y. 



their assailant and make a loud snapping noise with their beak. 

 Their nest is built amid ruins, in rocks, in the hollows or upon 

 the fork of a tall tree : it is composed of sticks piled in consider- 

 able quantities, lined with dry leaves and a few feathers. The 

 members of one genus {Kctupd) belonging to the continent and 

 archipelago of India, fly well by day, are constantly found on the 

 banks of rivers, and live principally upon fish and crabs. 

 The typical species — 



The Great-eared 0"wl or Eagle-Owl {Bubo * viaximus), is an inhabitant 

 of Europe, where it is tolerably common, but it is only a rare and occasional 

 visitor to the British islands. When full grown, it measures from twenty- four 

 to twenty-eight inches in length. The head is ornamented with two large tufts 

 of feathers, which stand up above the eyes like horns. It can endure light 

 better than some of its allies, but the season of its activity is principally during 

 the night. 



"Along the mountainous shores of the Ohio, and amidst the deep forests of 

 Indiana," says Wilson, " this ghostly watchman has frequently warned me of 

 the approach of morning, and amused me with his singular exclamations, 

 sometimes sweeping down and around my fire, uttering a loud and sudden 

 ' Waugh ho ! waugh ho !' sufficient to have alarmed a whole garrison. He has 

 other nocturnal solos no less melodious, one of which very strikingly resem- 

 bles the half-suppressed screams of a person suffocating or half throttled, which 

 cannot fail to be exceedingly entertaining to a lonely benighted traveller in 

 the midst of an Indian wilderness." 



When hard pressed, this owl is said to throw itself upon its back and defend 

 itself vigorously with its claws; it has even been described as contending 

 successfully with the eagle. 



At all events, it may be considered as one of the most powerful of its race, 

 boldly preying upon the largest game. Perched upon some branch, and ob- 

 scured by the shadows of evening, it marks its ill-fated quarry, — the fawn 

 reposing among the fern, the hare nibbling the grass, the grouse crouching 

 among the heath. Silently and rapidly down it pounces, strikes its victim, 

 and commences the work of destruction. Less noble game, such as moles, 

 rats, and lizards, may be also ranked among the articles of its food. This fine 

 bird chooses the clefts of rocks, or the hollows of decayed trees of antique 

 growth, for the purpose of nidification, laying three eggs of a rounded shape 

 and white colour. 



The Scops Owls {Ephialtes) arc of small dimensions, and are found in 

 the warmer parts of both hemispheres. They frequent wooded districts, where 

 they remain concealed during the day, but towards evening they sally forth in 

 search of their food, which consists of the smaller kinds of field quadrupeds 

 and of insects. Their eggs are generally from three or four to six in number, 

 and are deposited on the bare wood in the hollow of a tree. One species 

 {Scops Aldrovandi) may be regarded as a British bird ; it is, however, rare in 

 this country, and is believed to be only a bird of passage, visiting England 

 during the summer months, and retreating before the cold weather commences 

 to the south of Europe and to Northern Africa. We learn from Mr. Spence 



* Bubo, a long-eared owl. 



