178 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



Eggs. — Two to six; white, without polish or 

 markings of any kind. The bird commences to sit 

 as soon as she has laid one or two eggs, and keeps 

 on laying one or two at intervals, so tliat the 

 young in the same nest may often he found in 

 various stages of development. Average size about 

 1-6 by 1-25 in. Their smaller size distinguishes 

 them from those of the Tawny Owl, and their situa- 

 tion from those of both species of Horned (3 wis. 



Time. — April, May, June, and July, although 

 young have been found as late even as December. 



Bemarlis. — Resident. Note, a loud screech. 

 Local and other names : White Owl, Hissing Owl, 

 Church Owl, Madge Howdet, Jinny Oolet or Oolert, 

 Screech Owl, Yellow Owl. Sits close, and is partial 

 to old situations. 



OWL, LONG-EARED. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about 

 fourteen inches. Beak short, much curved, and 

 dusky horn colonr. Irides orange-yellow. Facial 

 discs dusky brown near the centre on the inside, 

 and white towards the ends of the feathers ; the 

 outer sides of each disc are pale brown, ending in 

 a line of darker brown. The ears or tufts of feathers 

 on the head are about an inch and a half long, 

 greyish-white on the inner edges, brownish-black in 

 the centre, and dullish yellow on the outside edges. 

 Crown, between horns, a mixture of the same colours. 

 Nape, neck all round, and the upper portion of the 

 back, dull yellow, streaked, longitudinally, with 

 brownish-black. Lower back and wings yellowish- 

 brown, marked with gre^'ish- white, dark brown, 

 and black. Upper side of tail rusty red, barred 

 and speckled with dark brown ; breast and belly 



