STRIGID.E. 33 



sought for in vain. "The bird inhabits the Oregon and 

 the Columbia Biver districts, and is met with abundantly in 

 the British provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, New- 

 foundland, and Labrador." Of its breeding habits we are 

 not prepared to give an account. 



THE TAWNY OWL. Ulula stridula. We incline to con- 

 sider the present species the most numerous in the southern 

 part of England, next the Barn Owl; but in the north of 

 England and south of Scotland, to which his observations 

 have extended, Sir W. Jardine estimates the Long-eared 

 Owl to be the second most numerous species. The Tawny 

 Owl delights in dark or gloomy woods of pine or evergreen, 

 and finds its breeding-place in some hollow tree (often, pro- 

 bably, in that which has sheltered it during the winter sea- 

 son), or in the deserted nest of the Carrion Crow or Magpie; 

 sometimes however its breeding-place is sought in holes of 

 rocks, and Montagu says, sometimes also in barns. 



Nidification commences in March; the nest is of the 

 slightest character, and the eggs, from three to five in num- 

 ber, are nearly round, large, and of pure and glossy white- 

 ness. The first egg is sat upon as soon as laid, and hence 

 there is often a considerable difference in the size of the 

 young, even in the same nest. The young are fed with 



D 



