8 NESTING OF THE EAGLE OWL AT CROYDON. 



former would weigh from 6 to 7^ pounds, and the 

 latter from 7 to 8^ pounds. The iris of the eye in 

 the living bird is of the most vivid orange, giving 

 it a very fierce aspect. When excited, the eagle 

 owl raises its feathers and extends the wings 

 laterally to their full expanse, snapping its beak 

 and hissing at the same time. It seems to expand to 

 twice its usual size when the feathers are raised in 

 this manner. My specimens, except at the nesting 

 season, are ve^ry tame, and will allow me to stroke 

 them, though any attempt at familiarity on the 

 part of any one they were not acquainted with 

 would be instantly resented. They generally become 

 most active about twilight, but the full glare of the 

 sun does not seem to cause them any annoyance ; 

 and I have seen in the mountain districts of Norway 

 both the eagle and snowy owls in search of food 

 during the brightest portion of the day. The 

 most common call-note of the eagle owl is a deep 

 sonorous hoot, repeated two or three times in 

 succession ; both sexes utter this cry. The male 

 bird also utters a sharp bark, so like that of a small 

 dog, that my dogs generally answer it, imagining it 

 to proceed from some canine intruder. Sometimes 

 also at night these owls utter a most peculiar sound, 

 quite distinct from their ordinary hoot. 



It may perhaps interest the members of the 

 society if I conclude this paper by describing a 



