258 



BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



Wales, and the south of Scotland ; rarer in the 

 north, and absent from Ireland. I have met 

 with it most numerously in Cumberland. 



Materials. None, the eggs being laid on decayed 

 wood, old hay, or the bird's own " castings." 

 Eggs. Three or four. Pure white, smooth, and 

 round. Size about 1.8 by 

 1.52 in. Distinguishing fea- 

 tures, the round shape and 

 large size. 



Time. March, April, May, 

 June, July, August, Septem- 

 ber, October, and even later. 

 Remarks. Resident. Notes: 

 tu - whit, to - whoo ; when 

 pleased the bird utters a low 

 kind of whistle, and when 

 angered snaps its beak with 

 considerable sound. Local 

 and other names : Brown Owl, Wood Owl, Jinny 

 Oolert, Hoot Owl, Jenny Howlet, Ivy Owl. 

 Comes forth at night and hoots weirdly. I have 

 on several occasions, however, heard it uttering 

 its note by day. This bird is said to stand 

 the light of day worse than any other mem- 

 ber of the Owl family, although I have seen it 

 abroad on dull days at noon, and even quartering a 

 hedgerow in weak October sunshine. I have heard 

 it hooting in the middle of a summer's day, when 

 the sun was blazing high overhead, both in West- 

 morland and in the Highlands of Scotland. A 

 close sitter. 



YOUNG TAWNY OWL. 



OWL, WOOD. See OWL, TAWNY. 



