THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 



neighbouring fields and commons, pays visits to the rick- 

 yards, and I have known it to pass to and fro above the 

 highway. This Owl neither hoots nor screeches, but 

 utters a mewing or barking cry. It apparently pairs for 

 life, and keeps fairly close to one particular haunt through- 

 out the year. It is an early breeder, laying its eggs from 

 February onwards. No nest is provided for them, and 

 they are deposited in the old deserted home of a Pigeon, 

 Crow, Magpie, or squirrel, or in some hollow in a tree, 

 especially where ivy grows in dense festoons and bunches. 

 They are from three to seven in number, white, and 

 slightly polished. The chief food of this Owl consists 

 of mice, rats, and voles, but small birds and insects are 

 occasionally sought. 



The general colour of the upper parts of this Owl is 

 buff, mottled and vermiculated with various shades of 

 brown ; the long horns or erectile tufts are black marked 

 with buff ; the under parts are of a paler buff, streaked 

 with dark brown and barred with light brown. Bill 

 and claws bluish grey ; irides bright orange-yellow. 

 Length of adult between 13 and 14 inches. The nestling 

 is covered with grey and buff down. 



