THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 



with its body pressed close up to the trunk. If disturbed 

 the light seems to cause it uneasiness, and it glides 

 off on silent wings in an erratic, uncertain way, its only 

 aim, apparently, to find another dusky nook. It is 

 thoroughly nocturnal, heard but seldom seen, and seeks 

 its prey in darkness. This food consists chiefly of mice, 

 rats, voles, shrews, young rabbits, and frogs, all the 

 indigestible parts of which are thrown up in pellets. 

 Small birds are occasionally caught. During winter 

 the Tawny Owl is somewhat solitary, but at other times 

 lives in closer company with its mate, to which it is 

 apparently paired for life. The same retreat and nesting- 

 place is often used year after year. It makes no nest, 

 but lays its three or four rotund white eggs in a hole in a 

 tree or cliff, amongst a dense cluster of ivy, or even in the 

 deserted home of a Crow, a Magpie, or a squirrel. The 

 first clutch of eggs is usually laid in March, and succeed- 

 ing clutches are produced as late as August. The birds 

 resent any disturbance, and are frequently very fearless 

 when their young are approached. 



The general colour of the upper parts of the Tawny 

 Owl is chestnut-brown, vermiculated and spotted with 

 dark brown and black ; the wing-coverts are marked with 

 round white spots ; the under parts are buff, streaked and 

 barred with brown. The female is a trifle larger than the 

 male. Bill greyish yellow ; irides dark brown. Length 

 of adult between 15 and 16 inches. The nestling is 

 clothed in greyish white down. 



