RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 91 



against them. He made a sort of dwelling for 

 them, on the ruins of an old gateway, and trained 

 some ivy round it, so as to conceal the place. In 

 about a month after everything w r as ready, a pair 

 of barn owls came and established themselves 

 there. This succeeded so well, that he provided 

 similar places, which were also occupied by owls. 

 He so contrived the first recess in the gateway 

 that he could examine it whenever he pleased, 

 and the birds, confident of protection, soon be- 

 trayed no fear when strangers mounted up to take 

 a peep into their abode. 



There was now an opportunity to study the 

 habits of the owls. Several broods of young ones 

 were brought off, and a rather unexpected piece of 

 information was obtained ; namely, that these birds, 

 unlike others, breed at all seasons, as he found a 

 brood hatched in September, and another in De- 

 cember. It appears that the barn owl sleeps 

 standing. The noise mistaken by many for snor- 

 ing, is the cry of the young birds for food. This 

 bird occasionally preys on fish. 



Mr. Waterton says, <; Some years ago, on a fine 

 evening, in the month of July, long before it was 

 dark, as I was standing on the middle of the 

 bridge, and minuting the owl by my watch, 

 as she brought mice into her nest, all on a 

 sudden she dropped perpendicularly into the 



