TAWNY OWL. 4.5 
Owl himseif or suffers any one clse, whom he could prevent, to 
destroy one. They are perfectly harmless, exceedingly useful, 
and strangely interesting to the observer. I may add that since I 
began to write these lines, I am told that the self-same tree is 
still oecupied by a pair of the self-same Owls, and has continued 
to be from the days of my boyish recollections—a period of 
more than thirty years. The young of this and the next species 
are very bold, resolute little creatures, if taken when rather 
more than half-grown. They will throw themselves on their 
jacks, and defend themselves pertinaciously with bill and ciaw 
against any foe, or supposed foe, human or other. The Barn 
Owl has been known to take fish by plunging upon it in the 
water. The eggs are about 14 inch long, by 12 broad. 
29. TAWNY OWL—(Syrnium stridula). 
Brown Owl, Wood Owl, Hoot Owl, Ivy Owl, Jenny Howlet. 
This is the bird whose well-known and, as I think, musical 
note is so often heard at night in wooded countries, in the 
genuine ‘“tu-whit-to-who-o-0-0,” or “hoot.” The last-named, 
or Barn Owl, is the Screech Owl proper, though not, in my 
experience, very much addicted to indulge in her unpleasant 
song. I very seldom used to hear a downright good screech in 
those old days. The Brown Owl makes its nest—at least, lays 
its eggs—in some hollow tree, usually in a wood or near one. 
Some times a few feathers or a little toss may receive the eggs, 
often only the decayed wood. I have heard of the nest of this 
bird in other positions; eg., in a deserted Crow’s nest, or 
a hole in a rocky bank. But the hollow tree is the rule. The 
eggs are three or four in number, and larger than the Barn 
Owl’s, being about 112 inch long, by 14 inch broad. The old birds 
nave two or three notes besides the hoot; one being a short, rather 
sharp cluck, often repeated. The young ones, after they fly, 
