BIRDS OF PREY 167 



bird, and the same of the honey buzzard, for I have 

 seen only a single specimen, and that was a dead one, 

 which was under the hands of a bird preserver. 



History informs us that owls were regarded with 

 a feeling of superstitious awe, as a rule, by the nations 

 of old. They were certainly considered birds of 

 omen, generally evil. The feeling exists still, more 

 or less, amongst certain classes and in certain localities. 

 To make a pet of one I have found quite enough 

 to cause a man to be set down as a peculiar being. 

 ' What a pity some people have not something better 

 to employ their spare time in than talking to a winking, 

 blinking owl ! ' is one of the milder remarks I have 

 survived in my character of a lover of some birds 

 which are not usually regarded with affection. I 

 plead guilty to a feeling of admiration for the most 

 quaint, and in my opinion the most intelligent, 

 members of that family of the birds of prey which 

 we call owls. 



The eagle owl, or Grand Duke, as he is named 

 sometimes, is certainly the prince of his tribe in his 

 native land ; here he is only a rare visitant. He preys 

 on hares, rabbits, and grouse the great wood-grouse, 

 or capercailzie, included ; also on the other smaller 

 creatures of the forest. He is a bird of grand aspect 

 and great muscular power. When seen in this 



