Birds of Britain 

 THE BARN OWL 



Strix f lammea, Linnaeus 



After many years' patient preaching, the Barn Owl is at 

 last beginning to be recognised as a friend to be encouraged, 

 rather than as an enemy to be slain, and it is now on the 

 increase throughout England, Wales, and Ireland. In Scot- 

 land it has always been local in the south and rare in the 

 north. 



The species is strictly nocturnal, and darkness has usually 

 fallen before it sallies forth from its hiding-place in a barn, 

 an old church tower, or a hollow tree. 



It feeds almost entirely on rats, mice, and such small 

 deer, and rarely takes any small birds, as they are always 

 securely roosting by the time the Barn Owl comes out. 

 From its habits of choosing barns and old buildings, this 

 species more than any other is deserving of man's protection, 

 since its favourite hunting-grounds are round the farm-yards, 

 where it destroys those vermin that are of most immediate 

 nuisance to the farmer. 



The note is a harsh high-pitched scream, which has 

 earned for it the name of " Screech Owl," but when in its 

 hole it makes a heavy snoring sound, and has also a curious 

 habit of waving its head from side to side. When seen 

 from above down a dark hole, the motion being just dimly 

 visible, it has a very uncanny appearance. 



The eggs, oval in shape and pure white like those of all 

 Owls, are laid without any attempt at a nest. They are 



190 



