MOTTLED OWL. 171 



nod, utters its notes, then shakes and plumes itself, and 

 resumes its flight in search of prey. It now and then, while 

 on the wing, produces a clicking sound with its mandibles, 

 but more frequently when perched near its mate or young. 

 This, I have thought, is done by the bird to manifest its 

 courage, and let the hearer know that it is not to be 

 meddled with, although few birds of prey are more gentle 

 when seized.' 



They hunt through the woods, or over fields, in search of 

 small birds, field-mice, and moles, from which they chiefly 

 derive their sustenance. 



The note, which is heard at the distance of several hundred 

 yards, is a tremulous, doleful, mournful chatter, and, like 

 that of other Owls, is thought of an ominous import, and 

 with as little reason as in their case. 



The nest is placed in the hollow trunk of a tree, sometimes 

 only some six or seven feet from the ground, but at other 

 times as high as from thirty to forty. It is composed of a 

 few grasses and feathers. 



The eggs are four or five in number, of a round shape, and 

 pure white; only one set of eggs is laid, unless the nest is 

 disturbed. The young remain in the nest until they are 

 able to fly. 



The ear-tufts on the head are composed of a series of ten 

 feathers, commencing over the middle of the eye, and ex- 

 tending backwards a quarter of an inch beyond it. 



The young are fully fledged by the middle of August. The 

 grey plumage is not assumed till the bird is two years old. 

 In the interval the feathers are sometimes a mixture of both 

 colours sometimes of a deep chocolate colour, and again 

 nearly black. 



Length, from about ten to ten inches and a half; the upper 

 mandible, which is much curved, is black on its basal half, 

 the lower one black, the tip horn-colour. Cere, bright yel- 

 low; from twenty-five to thirty black bristles, filamented on 

 their basal half, but single on the remainder, surround the 

 bill. On the crown the feathers are divided along the centre 

 of each with a chocolate-coloured stripe, and edged with light 

 brown. The disc is formed by an extension right and left of 

 stiff feathers, standing out from the tufts covering the ears, 

 which tufts constitute the horns, the feathers of which are 

 an inch and a quarter in length. Neck on the back, and 

 nape, marked in the same manner but the stripe narrower, 



