20 Birds that come to our 



The birds of the garden and parks are still to the fore, 

 although it is just upon 10 p.m., when the owls have 

 begun to send forth sonorous and mellow notes. Quite 

 close by in the avenue of elms, an old female tawny- 

 owl has commenced to call to her family with a shrill 

 plover-like scream (or is it a young bird ?), and is 

 immediately answered by her mate with his Hob ! — 

 Hot), Hob, Hob, Hoo ! Apparently a rival has in- 

 truded upon his beat, for quite a chorus ensues ; there 

 are certainly three or four all in close proximity. 

 Perhaps they are early-hatched birds of the year, for 

 some of the hoots are hoarser than others and not so 

 perfect in intonation, like young cocks learning to crow. 



But nothing can better that splendid mellow bari- 

 tone of the old owl as it rings out through the still- 

 ness of the beautiful starry night. And there ! yes ! 

 I can hear a brood of barn-owls snoring in an old elm- 

 tree in the park, where they have been hatched in a 

 hollow caused by one of last winter's storms, which be- 

 headed the old tree and left it splintered and decrepid. 



I believe the owls would be attracted to build near 

 one's house if, in the event of natural nesting-places 

 being scarce, large boxes were nailed up in certain 

 trees. They must be covered in, with a hole in one 

 side near the top, and a platform at the entrance for 

 the birds to settle on. Short-eared owls, which it 

 must be remembered are not garden birds — for they 

 frequent wild moorland — can be delightful as pets, if 

 taken from the nest and reared by hand. An old 

 Oxford acquaintance — an eminent ornithologist — once 

 most kindly sent me one from Cumberland. They 



