PLATE I 

 TAWNY OWL. Syrnium aluco 



May 2nd, 1896.- -This Plate is from a nest in the cleft of a large silver fir 

 near Doune, Perthshire. 



I had seen a Tawny Owl fly from the tree before, and on climbing up I 

 found two large downy young birds, who snapped their bills at me with 

 great energy. There was absolutely nothing in the way of lining in the 

 cavity except three or four refuse pellets and some Wagtail's feathers, and 

 the only signs of food were two pieces of a mouse which had been torn up, 

 no doubt by the old bird. I had some difficulty in getting my camera 

 fastened up, so as to see into the cavity, as it was about twelve feet from the 

 ground, but I managed by standing on a ladder and securing my camera 

 to an overhanging branch. 



In the same wood in 1897 I came across a nest of this species in the 

 mouth of a rabbit-hole ; there was no actual nest, but a slight hollow had been 

 scraped to prevent the eggs from rolling down into the hole. It contained 

 two fresh eggs. 



VOL. ii. 2 M 129 



