152 TAWNY OWL. 



night, which, as with our antipodes, is its day. In the winter, 

 when the trees ordinarily no longer afford it a covert, it 

 secretes itself in old buildings, or the hollows of trees, or in 

 evergreens, such as firs and holly, and in ivy. 



If disturbed during the day-time, and frightened from its 

 retreat, it flies about in a bewildered manner, the light doubtless 

 being unnatural and uncongenial to it. It may easily, in this 

 state, be overtaken and knocked down with sticks and stones. 

 The twilight of morning and evening is the time to see it 

 enjoying its fitful flight. 



The following anecdote of a bird of this species is related 

 by Mr. Couch, in his 'Illustrations of Instinct.' 'A Brown 

 Owl had long been in the occupation of a convenient hole 

 in a hollow tree; and in it for several years had rejoiced 

 over its progeny, with hope of the pleasure to be enjoyed 

 in excursions of hunting in their company; but through the 

 persecutions of some persons on the farm, who had watched 

 the bird's proceedings, this hope had been repeatedly disappointed 

 by the plunder of the nest, at the time when the young ones 

 were ready for flight. On the last occasion, an individual was 

 ascending their retreat, to repeat the robbery, when the parent 

 bird, aware of the danger, grasped her only young one in her 

 claws, and bore it away, and never more was the nest placed 

 in the same situation.' These birds are easily tamed, and 

 become quite domestic. 'They are at first,' says Montagu, 

 'very shy, but soon become tame if fed by hand. If put out 

 of doors within hearing of the parent birds, they retain their 

 native shyness, as the old ones visit them at night, and supply 

 them with ample provision.' Even if taken in the mature 

 state they may be tamed without difficulty. They have never 

 been known to drink. 



The flight of the Brown Owl is rather heavy and slow, 

 particularly at its first entering on the wing. 



The food of this species consists of leverets, young rabbits, 

 moles, rats, mice, and other small quadrupeds; birds of 

 various kinds; frogs, beetles, and other insects, worms, and 

 even fish. 



The note resembles the syllables 'hoo-hoo-hoo,' and it also 

 occasionally utters a harsh scream. I may here observe, in 

 reference to the generic name prefixed to this species, that 

 the name of the Owl is probably a corruption of the word 

 'howl.' Meyer describes the note as resembling a satirical 

 laugh. 



