THE TAWNY OWL — THE WHITE OWL. 235 



To enjoy unrestrained of such day the delight, 

 From pleasure's clear stream each oft sipp'd where he 



might. 

 What excited the smiles of the Aquiline King, 

 Was the noise made by some birds in efforts to sing. 

 The jetty black Raviln, now stretching his throat. 

 Did nothing but croak with a horrible note, 

 That of ill seem'd portentous, as down the deep delF,' ' 

 In echoes heart-startliilg the wavy sound fell. 



hollow trees, someiiriies in barns; eggs two or three, a dull 

 white. Said to be the only species known to hoot. (Movtagu.) 

 I think, however, this is doubtfnl. 



" Heard ye the owl 

 Hoot to herniate responsive? 'Twas not she 

 AVhom floating on white pinions near his barn 

 The farmer views well pleas'd, and bids his boy 

 Forbear her nest ; bnt she who cloth'd in robe 

 Of unobtrusive br;)wn, regardless flits 

 Mouse-haunted cornstacks and the thresher's floor, 

 And prowls for plunder in the lonely wood." 



Gisborne's Wulks in a Forest —Sumtner, 



This owl is an excellent mousing bird ; but it will sometimes 

 destroy pigeons. 



The Flaminea, White-Owl, Common-Barn Owl, Howlet, 

 Gillihoictery Madge- Hovcht, Church- Qui, Hissing- Owlj or 

 Screech'Owlf is about thirteen inches long; the plumage elegant; 

 body above pale yellow, with white dots; beneath whitish, 

 with blackish dots ; almost a domestic bird, inhabiting barns, 

 hay-lofts, and churches ; utters a kind of hissing, or harsh and 

 mournful cries, formerly believed in the country to be ominous. 

 Found in Europe, America, and this country. Feeds chiefly on 

 mice, which it swallows whole, ejecting afterwards the bones arid 



