312 THE SCOPS EARED-OWL AND THE WHITE OWL. 



dimensions. In a single nest of this bird have been found, according 

 to a writer in the Field, three young Owls, five leverets, four young 

 rabbits, three thrushes, and one trout weighing nearly half a pound. 



The voice of the Brown Owl is a loud monotonous hoot that may be 

 often heard in the evening in localities where the bird has made its 

 home. 



The nest is usually placed in the hollow of a tree, and contains sev- 

 eral white eggs. The fcolor of the Brown or Tawny Owl is an ashen 

 gray upon the upper parts of the body, variegated with chocolate and 

 wood-brown. Several whitish-gray bars are seen upon the primaries, 

 and there are several rows of whitish spots upon the wings and scapularies. 

 The facial disc is nearly white, edged with brown, and the under surface 

 of the body is of the same hue, covered with longitudinal mottlings of 

 variously-tinted brown. The claws are nearly white at their base, 

 darkening toward their extremities, and the beak is nearly of the 

 same color. The eyes are of a very dark black-blue. 



This species is found in many parts of Europe, and is said to be one 

 of the indigenous birds of Japan. 



We now come to an example of the British Owls, a bird that has at- 

 tracted great notice on account of its singular aspect. 



The Scops Eared-owl has been once or twice found in Yorkshire, 

 but usually resides in the southern parts of the Continent. It is re- 

 markable for the regularity with which it 

 utters its monotonous cry, as if a person 

 Avere constantly repeating the letter Q; at 

 regular intervals of two seconds. It does 

 not seem to prey upon mice and other an- 

 imals, like most of its relations, but feeds 

 on large insects, such as beetles and grass- 

 hoppers. The size of this owl is very small, 

 as it measures only seven inches in length; 

 the third primary feather is the longest. It 

 ays from two to four white eggs in a simple 

 nest made*in a hollow tree or in a cleft in 

 the rock. 



The best known of the British Owls is 

 the White, Barn, or Screech Owl, by 

 either of which appellations the bird is 



^"T>Ji'^:^"i:^::;:!- f^^f'^^y ^-o.- over the whole of Eng- 



land. 



This delicately-colored and soft-plumed bird is always found near 



human habitations, and is generally in the vicinity of farmyards, where 



It loves to dwell, not for the sake of devouring the young poultry, but 



of eating the various mice which make such havoc in the ricks, fields, 



