28 On the Ornithology of Wilts [^Strigidic]. 



the belated peasant, combine to startle and terrify bim into the 

 belief that something ominous has occurred, and lead him to think 

 that the owl bodes no good, and knows more than he ought, and 

 portends calamity : and this idea is greatly strengthened by the 

 strange pleasure which the bird seems to evince in singling out 

 and hooting at the window of the sleepless and fever-racked in- 

 valid, a greeting ever dreaded as the unfailing forerunner of death, 

 but which was only a scream of surprise, with which the bird 

 testified its perception of the light burning in the sick man's room, 

 and to which it was attracted from its hunting fields. Thus the 

 ignorance of man has from time immemorial attributed evil to the 

 owls, and caused them to be regarded ydih suspicion and super- 

 stitious horror, and consequently to be persecuted in every way ; 

 and was it not for their habit of keeping close to their hiding 

 places during the day, and only emerging with the declining light, 

 they would probably soon be exterminated from our island, without 

 any regard to their real harmlessness, and the immense benefit 

 they confer on man. 



It is very rarely indeed that an owl is seen abroad when the sun 

 is shining, but should one from any cause be driven or tempted 

 from his retreat during the day, it is attacked on all sides, mobbed, 

 persecvited, and pursued by a host of small birds, screaming and 

 chattering, and scolding, who knowing its helplessnesss at such a 

 time and seizing the opportunity, rejoice to take the common enemy 

 at a disadvantage, and worry him with great gusto. 



Like their diurnal brethren of prey, owls reproduce the indi- 

 gestible parts of the animals they have swallowed, as fur, feathers, 

 bones, &c., in large pellets or castings, many bushels of which may 

 be seen at the foot of the hollow tree, or the bottom of the 

 ruined ivy-covered tower, which they have selected for their abode. 

 Like the hawks too they live in pairs ; but rarely drink ; carry off 

 their prey in their feet, for which their sharp claws are well fitted ; 

 and, like the buzzards and harriers, beat their hunting grounds in 

 regular order, near the surface of the earth. Indeed, if we look 

 back to the family of falcons, we shall see in many respects a 

 gradual approach to the owls in the genera last described, these 



