92 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 



water. Thinking that she had fallen down in 

 epilepsy, my first thoughts were to go and fetch 

 the boat ; but before I had well got to the end of 

 the bridge, I saw the owl rise out of the water 

 with a fish in her claws, and take it to the nest." 



There can be no doubt that if this useful bird 

 caught its food by day instead of during the 

 night we should have ocular proof of its value in 

 thinning the country of mice, and it would be pro- 

 tected and encouraged everywhere, it is said 

 that when satisfied, this owl will hide the re- 

 mainder of its meat like a dog. It is common in 

 most, if not in all, the counties of England. In 

 Scotland it is less numerous, and appears to de- 

 crease in numbers as we approach northward. 



The following particulars respecting a tame 

 white owl, are taken from the Eev. L. Jenyns' 

 " Observations on Natural History." A young 

 one was taken from a nest in the woods at Dil- 

 stone, in Northumberland, and given by a lady to 

 her children, who brought it up. Great pains 

 seem to have been taken to domesticate this owl, 

 which consequently became very familiar. In 

 imitation of its own cry, it received the name of 

 "Kee-vie"to which it readily answered when within 

 call. It usually reposed during the day under the 

 branches of an old Scotch fir, where it remained 

 apparently in a sleeping condition, unless called, 



