MOTTLED OWL. 171 
nod, utters its notes, then shakes and plumes itself, and 
resumes its flight in search of prey. It now and then, while 
on the wing, produces a clicking sound with its mandibles, 
but more frequently when perched near its mate or young. 
This, I have thought, is done by the bird to manifest its 
courage, and let the hearer know that it is not to be 
meddled with, although few birds of prey are more gentle 
when seized.’ 
They hunt through the woods, or over fields, in search of 
small birds, field-mice, and moles, from which they chiefly 
derive their sustenance. 
The note, which is heard at the distance of several hundred 
yards, is a tremulous, doleful, mournful chatter, and, like 
that of other Owls, is thought of an ominous import, and 
with as little reason as in their case. 
The nest is placed in the hollow trunk of a tree, sometimes 
only some six or seven feet from the ground, but at other 
times as high as from thirty to forty. It is composed of a 
few grasses and feathers. 
The eggs are four or five in number, of a round shape, and 
pure white; only one set of eggs is laid, unless the nest is 
disturbed. The young remain in the nest until they are 
able to fly. 
The ear-tufts on the head are composed of a series of ten 
feathers, commencing over the middle of the eye, and ex- 
tending backwards a quarter of an inch beyond it. 
The young are fully fledged by the middle of August. The 
grey plumage is not assumed till the bird is two years old. 
In the interval the feathers are sometimes a mixture of both 
colours—sometimes of a deep chocolate colour, and again 
nearly black. 
Length, from about ten to ten inches and a half; the upper 
mandible, which is much curved, is black on its basal half, 
the lower one black, the tip horn-colour. Cere, bright yel- 
low; from twenty-five to thirty black bristles, filamented on 
their basal half, but single on the remainder, surround the 
bill. On the crown the feathers are divided along the centre 
of each with a chocolate-coloured stripe, and edged with light 
brown. The disc is formed by an extension right and left of 
stiff feathers, standing out from the tufts covering the ears, 
which tufts constitute the horns, the feathers of which are 
an inch and a quarter in length. Neck on the back, and 
nape, marked in the same manner but the stripe narrower, 
