A SUBURBAN ESTATE 29 



the nesting-hole the eggs looked like those laid by 

 the kestrel ; but on a nearer inspection the supposed 

 markings were found to be dirt and minute pieces 

 of wood, which adhered to the eggs. The bird was 

 in a corner, looking half asleep ; but directly I 

 looked into the hole she changed from a sleepy- 

 looking bird to one moved by intense passion. She 

 looked at me with wide-open eyes, fluttered round 

 the space in the large hollow tree, and darted out 

 past my face, and settled somewhere near in the 

 spinny. This old tree had probably been the owl's 

 home for years ; although, as a rule, I believe these 

 birds do not use the same place two years in 

 succession, but have about three nesting sites, and 

 use these alternately. In this tree was also the 

 old nest of a jackdaw. This was built about a 

 yard above the awl's eggs, and effectively cut off 

 all light from above, except what entered through 

 the hole in the side of the tree. 



In another small wood in this district a pair of 

 tawny owls yearly bring up a family. The nest last 

 spring was immediately over a well-frequented road, 

 and I believe the birds were successful in their efforts 

 to rear a brood. The male wood-owl roosts during 

 the day some distance from the nest, and I always 

 knew where to find him. He would be seen sitting" 



o 



on a bare branch, seemingly fast asleep, but a shout 

 from underneath caused him to turn his head and 



