SO BRITISH BIRDS, THEIR EGGS AND NESTS. 



Owl himself or suffers any one else, whom he could prevent, to 

 destroy one. They are perfectly harmless, exceedingly useful, 

 and strangely interesting to the observer. I may add that since I 

 jegan to write these lines, I am told that the self-same tree is 

 still occupied by a pair of the self-same Owls, and has continued 

 to be from the days of my boyish recollections a period of 

 more than thirty years. The young of this and the next species 

 are very bold, resolute little creatures, if taken when rather 

 more than half-grown. They will throw themselves on their 

 backs, and defend themselves pertinaciously with bill and claw 

 against any foe, or supposed foe, human or other. The Barn 

 Owl has been known to take fish by plunging upon it in the 

 water. The eggs are about 1-| inch long, by 1J broad. 



29. TAWNY QWI*-(Syrnium stridtda}. 



Brown Owl, Wood Owl, Hoot Owl, Ivy Owl, Jenny Howlet. 

 This is the bird whose well-known and, as 1 think, musical 

 note is so often heard at night in wooded countries, in the 

 genuine "tu-whit-to-who-o-o-o," or "hoot." The last-named, 

 or Barn Owl, is the Screech Owl proper, though not, in my 

 experience, very much addicted to indulge in her unpleasant 

 song. I very seldom used to hear a downright good screech in 

 those old days. The Brown Owl makes its nest at least, lays 

 its eggs in some hollow tree, usually in a wood or near one. 

 Some times a few feathers or a little moss may receive the eggs, 

 often only the decayed wood. I have heard of the nest of this 

 bird in other positions; e.g., in a deserted Crow's nest, or 

 a hole in a rocky bank. But the hollow tree is the rule. The 

 eggs are three or four in number, and larger than the Barn 

 Owls, being about !} inch long, by 1J inch broad. The old birds 

 have two or three notes besides the hoot; one being a short, rather 

 sharp cluck, often repeated. The young ones, after they fly, 

 depend a good deal on their parents' exertions for food, which 

 consists of young Rabbits, Hares, now and then birds of sorts, 

 Rats, Mice, &c. I once saw a young Brown Owl, apparently 

 waiting for its food to be brought, and sjtting very still on the 

 topmost bough of a tall tree, almost knocked off his perch by 

 the whizzing flight of a Wild Duck. The Owl ducked iiis head, 

 or I thought the Duck would have actually struck him, sc ncai 

 was the encounter. 



30. SNOWY OWL (Sumiauydu) 

 .i beautiful bird, of very rare occurrence. 



31. HAWK QWIs(Surniafuucrea) 

 Canada Owl More rare than the last. 



