THE TAWNY OWL. 177 
the nest hermetically sealed in the bole of the tree. 
A thousand people might gaze on this tree, in 
passing by, and still not see a blemish. I myself 
can just perceive it, by means of a few concentrated 
lines still visible on the bark; but, had not the 
discovery of the nest drawn my attention to the 
place, I should never have perceived that the eastern 
part of the tree had formerly received an injury. 
Mr. Ord was enraptured at the exposition of the 
ornithological treasure; and noted down in his 
pocketbook every thing worthy of record. The 
tree still stands: and long may it stand, to gratify 
the curiosity of naturalists. Last year, a pair of 
barn owls reared their young in it: and, just now, 
there are eggs in the same place. I made another 
excavation, in an ash tree about two hundred yards 
from this; and, last summer, it gave me an increase 
of three tawny owls. Throughout the winter, I 
could, at any time, find them reposing in some 
neighbouring fir trees. 
The tawny owl generally lays four snow-white 
eggs in the same hole which it had chosen for its 
winter quarters. I am satisfied in my own mind, 
that no owl in the world ever gathers materials to 
form the lining of its nest. Indeed, there is no 
necessity whatever for it to take that trouble; 
nature makes a sufficient provision for the lining of 
the hole to which the owl resorts, long before the 
breeding-time sets in. Every species of this bird 
ejects from the stomach all the indigestible parts of 
their food, in the shape of a dark-coloured oblong 
bolus ; which, when dried, is soon reduced to frag- 
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