64 THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



have been driven away by the Owls, who take posses- 

 sion of the Daw's nest and commence laying therein 

 without altering its form or substance. I have found 

 now and then an egg or two of the Jackdaw with 

 those of the Owl. This species begins to lay in 

 April, and I firmly believe that the hen bird begins 

 to sit as soon as she has laid her first egg, as I have 

 often seen five or six young Owls in the same nest 

 varying in size and plumage from a fully fledged bird 

 well able to fly, to a little puff of white down, cer- 

 tainly not more than a week old. In a recess in 

 Barnwell Castle, which must, I think, at some time 

 or other, have served as a fireplace, I once found ten 

 Barn Owls huddled up together, apparently of all 

 ages, as they certainly \vere of all sizes, but I do not 

 think that in this gathering there was more than one 

 old bird. I quite agree with Yarrell as to a second 

 and third laying taking place before the first family 

 leaves the nest, and the consequent hatching of the 

 later eggs by the elder birds. In a very fine ancient 

 walnut-tree close to Pilton Kectory, and within a few 

 minutes' walk of this house, a pair or two of Barn 

 Owls have been established for many years ; and as 

 their establishments are generally situated at the ex- 

 treme ends of the cavities in the large branches of 

 the tree, they are almost impossible of access and 

 safe from boys. 1 have known seven species of birds 

 to be rearing their broods at the same time in this 

 tree, viz. Barn Owl, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree-creeper, 

 Starling, Tree-Sparrow, Jackdaw, and Stock-Dove. 

 I have more than once seen a Barn Owl hunting 

 over a meadow in broad daylight, though not in sun- 

 shine, but I think that this species is more dazzled 

 by the sun than any other Owl with which I am 



