THE WHITE OWL IVY OWL. 275 



are. The eyes of the great horned owl are large and 

 transparent, and encircled with an orange-coloured 

 iris: its ears are large and open: its plumage is of a 

 reddish brown, marked on the back with black and 

 yellow spots, and with yellow ones alone on the 

 belly. This bird has sometimes been seen in Scot- 

 land, and also in Yorkshire; but it is not common in 

 any part of England. It inhabits inaccessible rocks 

 and deserted places, such as ruinous castles and un- 

 frequented caverns; and preys upon hares, rabbits, 

 and all kinds of feathered game. 



Next in size is the common horned owl, which, 

 like the former, appears much larger than it is, on ac- 

 count of the fulness of its plumage. When its wings 

 are expanded, their extent from one extremity to the 

 other is about three feet, and its horns are composed 

 of six feathers on each side, of about an inch in 

 length. Its colour is a reddish brown, with a mix- 

 ture of white, and their legs are feathered down to the 

 toes. These birds seldom take the trouble of making 

 a nest, but generally take possession of some deserted 

 one, which has been occupied by the magpye, or the 

 buzzard. They lay four or five eggs. The young 

 are at first quite white, but come to their colour in 

 about fifteen days. This kind of owl is common in 

 France and England. There are several other varie- 

 ties of the horned owl, which I shall omit, and briefly 

 mention two or three of the tribe which are without 

 horns. 



THE WHITE, OR COMMON BARN OWL, 



is the most generally known of any of this kind, as it 

 may be said to be almost domesticated. It seldom 

 lioots, but often screams tremendously. It generally 

 haunts barns and granaries, where it renders great 

 services to mankind, by clearing those places of the 

 mice, and other vermin which resort thither, and are 

 so destructive among grain. 



THE IVY, OR, SCREECH OWL, 



is that to which the gloomy apprehensions of mankind 

 have attributed the power of presaging death or cala- 

 mity; and the writers of poetry and roraaoces, in or.- 

 N 6 



