148 AUTUMNS ON THE SPEY. 



ments of which this falcon breeds, although the 

 nest is occasionally robbed of eggs or young. 



Of indigenous owls, the long-eared Otus 

 vulgaris and the tawny Syrnlum aluco are the 

 most common. The hootings of the latter may 

 still be heard every evening in the park, although 

 the species has certainly decreased in number 

 during the last few years. Indeed it is only 

 wonderful how it survives. On securing a rat or 

 young rabbit, the instinct of this owl- as well as 

 of many other rapacious birds prompts it to fly 

 at once with its prey to a leafless stump or 

 pollarded tree, on the flat summit of which it 

 loves to feast uninterruptedly. Availing them- 

 selves of this habit, the wily keepers construct 

 the pole-trap simply a board nailed horizontally 

 on the top of a post, ten or twelve feet from the 

 ground. No bait or lure is necessary : a naked 

 gin is placed on the flat piece of wood above : the 

 unfortunate owl flies unhesitatingly to the nearest 

 and is inevitably captured. 



Among the numerous victims that adorn (?) a 

 conspicuous wall near the head keeper's residence, 

 the tawny owl seems to predominate. His com- 

 panions in disgrace, however, are sufficiently 

 numerous, principally kestrels, sparrow-hawks, 

 merlins, and a few hobbies, for the larger species 



