FAMILY STRIGID.E; 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 these are 

 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 bc.-n 



FIG. 22i THE GiiK.vT OWL. 



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

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



