266 TAWNY OWL. 



whole or in fragments, lying under the trees on 

 which I have observed the young birds to perch 

 after they had left the nest." Mr "Waterton also 

 confirms the fact ; and from the different localities 

 it would appear that this food was pretty generally 

 sought after by the Brown or Tawny Owl. The 

 manner of taking the prey is scarcely -so well 

 ascertained, from the account given at page 250, 

 the White Owl seized its prey in the water, 

 and we have an anecdote mentioned by Mr 

 Jennings, where the gold and silver fish in the 

 flower garden at Bulstrode were missing, and 

 watchmen being appointed, saw Owls, which they 

 called the common Brown Owl, alight on the side 

 of the pond, and " there waiting the approach of 

 the fish, captured and devoured them." Mi 

 Waterton also remarks, " I have found by dis- 

 secting the bolus of this species, that it feeds 

 copiously on different sorts of Beetles," a circum- 

 stance not entirely confined to this species. 



The plumage of this species varies considerably 

 in its tint and intensity, whence it has been 

 described under more than one title, or composing 

 more than one species; the distributions of the 

 principal workings, however, continue similar, but 

 there is a considerable variation in the form and 

 size of the more subordinate bars or crossings. 

 The tint varies from a deep wood brown colour, 

 to an umber or tawny brown, more or less tinted 



