270 ITS FEROCITY. 



ing, when all animated nature is in motion, and when in 

 consequence it is the better enabled to make its captures. 

 From this circumstance, coupled with its enormous strength, 

 it is perhaps about the most destructive of all the Scandina- 

 vian birds of prey. Although few things come amiss to the 

 eagle owl, it more generally attacks the larger game, and is 

 specially fond of hares. It is said, indeed, that even if a fox 

 crosses its way it will not spare him. 



It is a very savage bird. Doctor Mellerborg assured me, 

 as mentioned in my former work, that it will sometimes 

 destroy dogs. Indeed, he himself once knew an instance of 

 the kind. He stated another circumstance showing its 

 ferocity, which came under his immediate notice. Two men 

 were in the forest for the purpose of gathering berries, when 

 one of them happening to approach near to the nest of the 

 owl, she pounced upon him, whilst he was in the act of 

 stooping, and fixing her talons in his back, wounded him 

 very severely. His companion, however, was fortunately near 

 at hand, when, catching up a stick, he lost no time in destroy- 

 ing the furious bird. 



The female makes little in the shape of a nest, and that 

 little generally in the cavity, or on the ledge of a rock. 

 She lays from two to three eggs of a beautiful white colour, 

 of a much superior size to that of the common hen. 



The eagle owl is not infrequently taken in Sweden by 

 means of steel-traps ; and others again are captured in pit- 

 falls, prepared for wolves and foxes. Instances have also 

 occurred of their having been taken in fishing-nets ; for in 

 their attempts to plunder these of their contents, they have 

 got entangled in the meshes, and been drowned. 



I have at different periods had many eagle owls in con- 



