154 OWLS. 



liarity on being hung out during the night, in consequence of 

 renewed visits from the supposed parent birds, who fed them 

 with as much care and attention as if they had been with them 

 without interruption. 



Another instance in point was witnessed by a Swedish 

 gentleman who resided several years on a farm, near a 

 steep mountain, on the summit of which two Eagle-Owls 

 (Strix bubo) had built their nest. One day, in the month 

 of July, a young bird, having quitted the nest, was caught 

 by the servants. This bird was, considering the season of 

 the year, well feathered ; but the down appeared here and 

 there between those feathers which had not yet attained their 

 full growth. After it was caught it was shut in a large hen- 

 coop, when, to his surprise, on the following morning, a fine 

 young Partridge was found lying dead before the door of the 

 coop. It was immediately concluded that this provision had 

 been brought there by the old Owls, which no doubt had 

 been making search in the night-time for their lost young 

 one. And such was, indeed, the fact ; for night after night, 

 for fourteen days, was this same mark of attention repeated. 

 The game which the old ones carried to it consisted chiefly of 

 young Partridges, for the most part newly killed, but some- 

 times a little spoiled. On one occasion a Moor-fowl was 

 brought, so fresh, that it was actually warm under the wings; 

 a putrid stinking lamb was at another time deposited. It 

 was supposed that the spoiled flesh had already been some 

 time in the nest of the old Owls, and that they brought it 

 merely because they had no better provision at the time. The 

 gentleman and his servant watched several nights, in order 

 that they might observe, through a window, when and how 

 this supply was brought ; but in vain for it appeared that 

 the Owls, which are very quick-sighted, had discovered the 

 moment when the window was not watched, as food was found 

 to be placed before the coop on those very nights. In the 

 month of August, the attention on the part of the old birds 

 ceased ; but it should be observed that this was the usual 

 period when all birds of prey abandon their young to their 



