WHITE OR BARN OWL. 255 



resort for the Armcolos^ and a newly mown field 

 of hay we have seen very carefully examined. 

 The prey is dropt suddenly down upon without 

 any apparent effort ; at times a stop in the steady 

 flight is suddenly made, the bird rises slightly in 

 the air, and immediately makes the stroke or 

 pounce. Sometimes a considerable time is spent 

 on the spot where the prey is seized, as if it was 

 immediately torn and fed upon ; but it is more 

 generally carried off at once to be consumed at 

 more leisure, and this is always done at the season 

 of incubation for the support of the young. Ex- 

 cursions are often made to a much greater distance, 

 and with considerable regularity; we have fre- 

 quently met the White Owl a mile from his cover, 

 and the Irish birds seem to stray even farther. 

 Mr Thompson says, " I have the following evidence 

 of its regular flight to some distance from its 

 domicile, just as twilight commences. Near Bel- 

 fast, there is a considerable extent of low lying 

 meadows, which are flooded by heavy rains, and 

 at such times are resorted to by various species of 

 wild fowl (Anatidw.) The flood never attaining 

 such a height as to cover the banks surrounding 

 these meadows, they are frequented by persons 

 for the purpose of shooting wild fowl on their 

 evening flight, and to whom the owl, on as ' mur- 

 derous deeds intent,' occasionally falls a victim." * 

 This species, and its congeners, have gained a 

 * Magazine of Zool. and Bot. ii. p. 178. 



