Owls 245 



presume upon the inability of other creatures to see in the 

 dark, for I have sometimes walked, quite openly, up to the 

 tree, in which one was hooting, without its being disturbed. 

 The Tawny Owl occasionally varies its diet by eating worms. 

 I once watched one at dusk, after a wet day, descend to the 

 ground half a dozen times from an overhanging tree, and 

 each time secure a large worm, backing with the worm in 

 its bill, so as to draw it from its burrow, after the manner 

 of a thrush, and returning to the tree to devour it. In 

 captivity, they take worms rather reluctantly, and only when 

 no other choice of food is offered them. 



The Long-eared Owl (Dylluan gyrnig, or gorniog) was 

 less numerous round Llanuwchllyn than in some of the 

 neighbouring valleys, where its favourite fir woods are 

 more plentiful ; but I occasionally heard it at night, and 

 sometimes saw one. It seems, sometimes, to be doubted 

 whether this owl hoots at all, but I have frequently had 

 ocular demonstration of the fact. The call is not nearly 

 so loud as that of the Tawny Owl, but is more prolonged ; 

 a sort of weird bleat that may be syllabled somewhat like 

 " To-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-ho-ho." In cadence, it is subject to 

 considerable variation, and harmonises well with the lonely 

 fir woods in which it is commonly heard. Upon occasions, 

 it has struck me as particularly expressive of anger. When 

 bringing food to the young, this owl has also a soft crooning 

 call, and it also " purrs " something like a cat, but louder. 

 I have seen its eggs upon a ledge of rock, but its favourite 

 site is an old Magpie's nest. Upon one occasion, I found 

 one sitting on eggs in a new Magpie's nest, and have little 

 doubt that it had ejected the rightful owner, for, when 

 roused, it can become a veritable fury. 



Though, like all the other members of the family, its 

 usual food consists of small quadrupeds, the Long-eared 

 Owl seems to have a particular penchant for robbing the 

 nests of Wood Pigeons ; and I have no hesitation in affirming 

 that it, and the Magpie, are two of the best natural checks 

 we have against the undue increase of that bird in the fir 

 woods that form the favourite home of each. In default 

 of better accommodation, a very flimsy Pigeon's nest, 



