XL OWL. 



(Syrnium aluco.} 



THE large portrait was from a tame bird. Owls have young ones 

 of different ages, in the nest and outside of it on the branches, at 

 the same time, still being fed by the parent birds. I brought a 

 couple of young ones here, where we had none, though they existed 

 a few miles off, and let them loose in the garden, where they sat 

 on an old tree-stump in a cave by day, and were " mocked and 

 wondered at " by the little birds when they discovered their 

 retreat. They were not old enough to shift for themselves when 

 I first imported them, so we put out food for them daily. They 

 were very fond of fish, so we always put out a share of what 

 was caught in the evening, and they always devoured it before 

 morning. We also imported some white Screech Owls, but they 

 have disappeared. 



The brown Owls have increased, although some of them were 

 shot by a timid neighbour, who thought their hooting foreboded 

 evil, and who did not appreciate the cheerful sound in the fine 

 moonlight nights. 



I saw a curious scene in the cave where those imported Owls 

 spent the day. A Wren had discovered their haunt, and was 

 strutting up and down on the stump beside one of them, with its 

 tail so stiffly cocked up as nearly to touch its back. The infuriated 

 little troglodite was screaming defiance in its loudest voice and 

 hurling insults at its sleepy head. The Owl, whether from * 

 stupidity or good nature, made no attempt to retaliate. 



27 



