SYRNIUM ALUCO. 57 
On the Andalucian side of the Straits the White Owl is 
common and resident, nesting at Gibraltar in the Moorish 
Castle. 
I must here digress to say a few words in favour of this 
most useful of birds. Almost exclusively feeding on rats and 
mice, they deserve every encouragement and support that can 
be afforded them ; but from being in all countries regarded 
with superstitious awe and dislike, they are more or less per- 
secuted on that account ; and in England, through the igno- 
rance and stupidity of game-keepers, who fancy that they kill 
game («. e. feathered game), they suffer most severely. This 
excuse is ridiculous ; for the old birds they have not the power 
to kill, and young pheasants and partridges at the time the 
Owls are on the feed are safely being brooded by the parent 
bird. 
Those who wish to encourage and increase Owls, and have 
not hollow trees or buildings where they nest, may always 
gratify their wishes by fixing an empty barrel (about an 
18-gallon size) horizontally in the fork of any large tree, 
cutting a hole in one end large enough for the birds to enter ; 
but the hoops of the cask should be screwed on, or it will 
soon fall to pieces. Not only the Barn- Owl, but the Tawny 
Owl [Syrnium aluco) also will use these barrels or "owl- 
tubs." The difficulty, however, is, to keep out the Jackdaws ; 
but when once the Owls have established themselves, there is 
no fear of that intrusion. 
In a barrel put up too near another in which was an OwFs 
nest, a pair of Stock Doves took possession and reared their 
young. This same tub afterwards had a hornet's nest in it. 
36. Syrnium aluco, Linn. Tawny Owl. 
Moorish. Lu Lual, Bu-rii-ru. 
"This species is the scarcest of the Owls near Tangier, 
being met with on passage, crossing to Eurojic in February, 
returning in November and December. Some remain to nest 
in April, laying two eggs, of which often only one is hatched. 
They live in large thick woods." — Favier. 
Specimens of the Tawny Owl which I have seen from 
