WHITE OWL. 157 
One of these birds after having heen tamed fer some time, 
was found to be in the habit for some months, of taking part 
of its food to a wild one, which overcame its shyness so far 
as to come neer tne house, and it would then return to the 
kitchen and eat the remainder of its portion. Another of them 
is described by Meyer, as so tame ‘that 16 would enter the 
dcor or window of the cottage, as soon as the family cat down 
to supper, and partake of the meal, either sitting upon 
the back of a chair, or venturing on the table; and it was 
sometimes seen for hours before the time, watching anxiously 
for the entrance of the expected feast. This exhibition was 
seen regularly every night.’ If captured when grown up, it 
sometimes refuses food, and its liberty m such, indeed in an 
ease, should be given it. In cold weather a number of these 
birds have been found sitting close together for the purpose 
of keeping each other warm. The male and female consort 
together throughout the year. If aroused from their resting- 
plaee during the day, they fly about in a languid, desultory 
manner, and are chased and teased by chaflinches, tomtits, 
and other small birds, by whom, indeed, they are sometimes 
molested in their retreat, as well as by the urchins of the 
village. 
The flight of this bird, which is generally low, is pre-eminently 
soft, noiseless, and volatile. It displays considerable agility on 
the wing, and may be seen in the tranquil summer evening 
turning backward and forward over a limited extent cf beat. 
It 2iso, its movements being no doubt directed by the presence 
or absence of food, makes more extended peregrinations. If 
its domicile be at some distance, it flies regularly at the proper 
time, which is that of twilight or moonlight, to the same 
haunt. During the day it conceals itself in hollow trees, rocks, 
buildings, and evergreens, or some such covert. It is a bird 
of cultivated taste, preferring even villages and towns them- 
selves, as well as their neighbourhoods, to the mountains or 
forests; and frequents buildings, church steeples, crevices and 
holes in walls, for shelter’ and a roosting-place; as also, 
occasionally, trees in unfrequented places. Montagu says that 
it sometimes flies by day, particularly in the winter, cr when 
it has young. When at rest it stands in an upright position. 
Moles, rats, and mice are extensively preyed om by the 
bird before us: as many as fifteen of the latter have been 
found clcse to the nest of a single pair, the prcdauce of 
the forage of one night, or rather part of the preduce, for 
