TAWNY OWL. 139 



as referring to the same bird ; differences observed in the 

 plumage, some specimens being reddish brown or tawny, 

 while others were grey, had led to a belief in the existence 

 of two distinct species. 



The Tawny Owl is a common bird in most well- wooded 

 districts, and is strictly nocturnal in its habits, seldom 

 moving or leaving its place of concealment during the day, 

 and appears, more than any other species of Owl, to be in- 

 commoded by bright light. It inhabits thick woods, or 

 strong plantations of evergreens, and at nightfall issues 

 forth to seek its food, sometimes visiting small enclosures 

 about farm-houses, at others taking a wider range over the 

 neighbouring fields. It feeds indiscriminately on leverets, 

 young rabbits, moles, rats, mice, birds, frogs, and insects. 

 Several writers have proved that this Owl feeds occasion- 

 ally on fish, and that it is able to catch either those species 

 that swim near the surface in deep water, or the bullhead 

 and loach, that are to be found among stones in the shal- 

 lowest parts of brooks. 



The eggs of this species are large compared with those of 

 either of the three Owls last described. They are smooth 

 and white, measuring one inch ten lines in length, by one 

 inch six lines in breadth. These, to the number of three 

 or four, are usually deposited in a hole in a tree, and, ac- 

 cording to Mr. Jenyns, are hatched in April. For a con- 

 siderable time the young, covered with a greyish white 

 down, are fed in the nest ; they afterwards perch among 

 the branches of trees near the nest, where the parent birds 

 still continue to feed them. The young of this species of 

 Owl are said to be more easily reared than others, being 

 much less choice in the quality of their food. The note of 

 this Owl is a loud and melancholy hoot, most frequently 

 heard in the evening. 



The Tawny Owl may be traced through the western 



