148 STRIGIDJE. 



more. At last, instead of the frantic chattering of the 

 poor magpies, one of them began to shriek in agony like 

 a hare when caught in a noose ; and it was evident the 

 owl was endeavouring to drag the magpie by the head out 

 of the entrance hole of the nest. I ran down to the spot 

 to prevent the perpetration of another murder, and arrived 

 in time to separate the combatants by striking against the 

 stem of the tree with a stick. Before the next morning 

 the young of our only pair of rooks had disappeared from 

 the nest, in a situation where nothing but the owls could 

 have injured them. This was too bad; a decree went 

 forth against the young owls, and they paid the penalty of 

 their voracious appetites. 



" It is thus evident that the magpie's instinct in arching 

 over her nest is necessary to enable her and her mate to 

 defend it against rapacious birds. Probably the Raven, 

 the Buzzard, and the Kite may be all disposed to make 

 unfriendly visits, and it is evident that the Tawny Owl 

 is a formidable enemy. The reluctance of the Rook to 

 build out of society may also be better understood, as it 

 cannot defend its open nest against the Owl at night ; and 

 also one reason why the instinct of the Daw leads it to 

 seek the shelter of a hole. That wisdom and beneficence 

 which never err, may have given them instincts for other 

 and more important ends than human eyes may ever be 

 able to descry, but it is always gratifying when we think 

 we can in part understand the utility and design of differ- 

 ences so striking." 



The Tawny Owl may be traced through the western 

 counties of England, but has not been recognised by prac- 

 tical ornithologists as existing in Ireland. It occurs also 

 in the northern counties of England, but is more rare 

 in Scotland. Mr. Low includes it among the birds of 

 Orkney that are seen in summer, but not in the winter. 



