Hawks and Owi.s. 49 



Several Owls may safely be kept together, l)ut as most 

 species breed readily in confinement they should be separated 

 into pairs in the spring, or fighting (and murder) is pretty sine 

 to take place. Birds of the same sex will live together without 

 much fighting at all times of the year, bnt should a pair mate 

 they will soou kill ofiF any other inmates. The loss of birds in 

 this way does not necessarily mean that they kill each other by 

 fighting, it more often happens that the weaker are driven to one 

 corner of the aviar)' from which they dare not move, and become, 

 in consequence starved. In the autumn, Owls need a much larger 

 amount of food and, where several kinds are kept together, 

 unless they are very much overfed, the weaker will have a bad 

 chance, but it must be remembered that if overfed, as is usually the 

 case, they will never be in condition or come into breeding trim. 



When breeding, they require no special attention, but when 

 the young are hatched they should, if possible, be given nothing 

 but mice, rats and other natural food. 



Owls will do very well in an aviary with a total absence of 

 snn, but, on the other hand, many species do enjoy occasionally 

 a 'bask' in the sun, though it is in no way essential to their 

 health ; the same remarks apply to a bath. 



Comparatively few species of Owls are commonly kept; 

 the EAGI.K Owl is the largest and finest species usuall}' met with 

 and nests very freely. The eggs are generally laid in March in 

 a depression scraped in the floor of the aviary, and incubation is 

 carried out by the hen alone. The approach of the breeding 

 season is heralded by the almost continuous hooting, the male and 

 female answering each other continuously and with monotonous 

 frequency. Care must, of course, be taken when entering the 

 cage, or even if standing near it, as both birds are at this time 

 extremely savage. This may also be said of most species when 

 nesting, except the Barn Owl, which I have found extremelj' 

 docile, allowing itself to be lifted off her young or eggs without 

 a protest. 



Probably the most delightful Owls to keep are the ScOPS, 

 they are small and quite inoffensive and may comfortably be kept 

 in a living room in an ordinary cage and allowed out periodically 

 to exercise their wings. For this and other small species the 



