FAMILY STRIGIDJ3; BARN OWL, HORNED OWLS. 421 



and it has been found very useful in the neighbourhood of dove- 

 cots, in keeping down the rats, which very commonly abound 

 there, to the destruction of the young pigeons. Mr. Waterton 

 has noticed that, when it has young to feed, it will bring a mouse 

 or young rat to the nest every twelve or fifteen minutes during 

 the night. Its services to the farmer, therefore, are really very 

 great ; and it ought to be encouraged, instead of being regarded 

 as a pest. The superstitious dread of the Owl, which is still 

 commonly entertained, is partly dependent on the dismal sounds 

 it utters ; and the time and circumstances under which this is 

 heard. The Barn Owl constructs a rude nest, in which three or 

 four eggs are laid at once ; the female often lays a second time 

 before the young are able to leave the nest ; and this has been 

 known to happen a third time, so that the nest at last con- 

 tained three broods of different ages. Many other species, more 

 or less closely resembling the Barn Owl, are found in different 

 parts of the temperate regions of the globe. 



382. It is among the Horned Owls, that we find the largest 

 Birds of this family. The Great or Eagle Owl (Fig. 222) is but little 

 inferior in size to the Golden Eagle ; and is very destructive to 

 young roes and fawns, hares, rabbits, rats, moles, reptiles, par- 

 tridges, grouse, and other game. It is chiefly found in the 

 mountainous parts of Central Europe ; but it has been occasion- 

 ally seen in Britain. It frequents deep forest glens ; and makes 

 its nest in the fissures of rocks, in ruined castles, and similar 

 places. The Harfang or Great Snowy Owl nearly equals the 

 Eagle Owl in size, and resembles it in its general habits ; but it 

 is found in very high northern latitudes, of both the Old and New 

 World ; obtaining its food, and rearing its young, among rocky 

 mountains and islands, in spite of all the vicissitudes of tempera- 

 ture and season. It is indeed one of the hardiest of all Birds. 

 Its head-tufts are small and inconspicuous ; so that it has been 

 described as being destitute of them. Connecting this group 

 with the next, is a curious species termed the Burrowing Owl, 

 which is widely spread through the American Continent ; inha- 

 biting the burrows of the Marmot, Viscacha, and other small 

 Rodentia ; and, when these do not present themselves, making 



