THE WHITE OR BARN OWL. JO!) 



if the covert should be of any threat extent. Its food consists chiefly of mice and birds ; 

 and Mr. Yarrell mentions that lie has discovered in the stomach of a Short-eared Owl, the 

 remains of a bat and a half-grqwu rat. 



This bird has a very large geogTaphical range, being found spread over the whole 

 (if Eiu'ope and in many parts of Asia and Africa. In North America it is a veiy common 

 bird, and is tliought to be also an inliabitant of Chili. Specimens have been brought from 

 the Sandwich Isles, Rrazil, and the Straits of Magellan. 



In colour it is a pretty bird ; the upper surface of the body, together with the head and 

 neck, are fawn, covered with dark-brown patches, the darker tint being placed on the 

 centre of each feather, and the same round the edges. A few spots of yellow are seen on 

 the wing-coverts, and the ruddy-brown primaries are bound with dark brown and tipped 

 with ashen-grey. Several very decided bars of dark brown cross the tad, and the facial disc 

 is dark towards the eye, becoming lighter towards the circumference and edged with 

 a white line. The feathers of the disc are long, and almost conceal the l;)asal portions of 

 the beak. With the exception of the white skin, the whole of the under surface of the 

 boely is light buff, thickly crossed with longitudinal dashes of dark brown upon the breast, 

 and with a few long streaks of the same colour upon the abdomen. The legs and thighs 

 are pale buff, the claws and beak are black, and the eyes golden yellow. The length of the 

 bu'd is about fifteen inches, the female being longer than the male. 



" In the hollow tree, in the old grey tower 

 The spectral Owl doth dwell ; 

 Dull, hated, despised in the sunshine hour, 



But at dusk he's abroad and well ! 

 Not a bird of the forest e'er mates with hiin, 



All mock him outright by day ; 

 But at night, when the woods grow still and dim, 

 • The boldest will shrink away. 



! when the night falls, and roosts the fowl. 

 Then, then is the reign of the Horned Owl. ; 



And the Owl hath a bride who is fond and bold, 



And loveth the woods' deep gloom ; 

 And with eyes like the shine of the moon-stone cold. 



She awaiteth her ghastly groom : 

 Not a feather she moves, not a carol she sings, 



As she waits in her tree so still, 

 Biit when her heart heareth his flapping wings, 



She hoots out her welcome shrill ! 



Oh ! when the moon shines and dogs do howl. 

 Then, then is the reign of the Horned Owl. 



Moiim not for the Owl, nor his gloomy pUght ! 



The Owl hath his share of good. 

 If a prisoner he bo in the broad dayhght. 



He is lord in the dark greenwood ! 

 Nor lonely the bird nor his ghastly mate ; 



They aie each unto each a pride ; 

 Thrice fonder, perhap.s, since a strange dark fate 

 Hath rent them from all b&side ! 



So when the night falls and dogs do howl, 

 Sing Ho ! for the reign of the Homed Owl ! 

 We know not alway 

 \Mio are kings of day, 

 But the king of the night is the bold brown Owl ! " 



B.VERT CORXWALL. 



The best known of the British Owls is the White, Baen, or Screech Owl, by either 

 of which appellations the bird is famdiarly known over the whole of England. 



This delicately coloured and soft-plumed bii'd is always found near Imman habitations, 

 and is generally in the vicinity of farmyards, where it loves to dwell, not for the sake of 

 devouring the young poultn^ but of eating the various mice which make such havoc in the 

 ricks, fields, and barns. The " feathered cat," as this bird has happily been termed, is 



