EAGLE OWL 



GREAT OWL GREAT HORNED OWL GREAT EARED OWL 



PLATE XXIII. FIGURE I. 



Strix bubo, .... LINNAEUS. MONTAGU. 

 Bubo maximus, .... SELBY. GOULD. 

 Bubo tgnavus, .... SEEBOHM. 



THIS fine species, which very rarely occurs in the British 

 Isles, nests only in the forest districts of Europe. It 

 breeds in trees, taking possession of some old nest of other 

 birds, or laying its eggs, which are two and never more than 

 three in number, on the fur and castings of the animals on 

 which it feeds. Mr. Saunders tells us that when not perse- 

 cuted it will breed near a cottage, and that in Spain and 

 the Pyrenees the peasants make a practice of robbing the 

 nest of the game supplied to the young by the parents, 

 and substitute any available offal for their food. 



Nidification with this species commences the latter end 

 of March. Only one brood is produced in the year. The 

 female sits about five weeks. Incubation begins in April, and 

 the young are hatched in May. 



The eggs are two or three in number, white or bluish 

 white, and, like those of all the Owls, of a rounded form, and of 

 a rough chalky appearance. The Eagle Owl breeds freely in 

 confinement, even after having been imprisoned many years. 



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