LONG-EARED OWL. 281 



depressed ; he is aware of being pursued, and a 

 second flight is taken before a very near approach 

 can be gained. This Owl generally makes use of 

 the deserted nest of the carrion crow for its breed- 

 ing-place, but we have seen it placed about half 

 way up the tree, close to the trunk, in a situation 

 where it was not likely there would be a previous 

 nest. In this instance, the fabric was quite loose, 

 and almost without any lining; anrl we think, 

 from the appearance of many nests we have exa- 

 mined, that some assistance or repair is given to 

 the old structure by the addition of some fresh 

 sticks before incubation is again commenced 

 Dr Richardson says, that in Arctic America " it 

 lays three or four roundish white eggs, sometimes 

 on the ground, at other times in the deserted nests 

 of other birds in low bushes." Four pure white 

 eggs, of a form considerably oval, are generally 

 laid, sometimes as early as the middle of March. 

 Food is most amply supplied to the young, and 

 consists principally of mice and arvicolae, occa- 

 sionally small birds.* 



The Long-eared Owl is generally distributed 

 over Britain, wherever there is abundance of wood 

 and cover. In the South of Scotland, it is cer- 

 tainly the most common next to the "White Owl ; 



* " It preys chiefly on quadrupeds of the genus arvicola, 

 and in summer destroys many beetles." North. Zool. ii. 

 p. 72. 



