STKIGID^E. 35 



to the south of Durham, this is a winter visitant, but in the 

 more northerly parts it breeds. The nest of this species is 

 formed upon the ground among heath, fern, etc., sometimes 

 composed of moss, hay, or grass, and at other times formed 

 by a mere hollow in the earth. The eggs, of a rotund form, 

 and white, are from three to five in number. The young 

 are barely able to fly by the middle of August, and appear 

 to leave the nest some time before they are able to rise from 

 the ground. 



THE EAGLE OWL. v Bubo maximus. Northern Europe 

 appears to be the stronghold of this species, and its rank as 

 British rests on a few instances of its capture and one or 

 two records of its appearance. Temminck gives ruined 

 buildings as. occasionally selected for its breeding-places, 

 and also the clefts of rocks. Mr. Hewitson says, "The 

 Eagle Owl breeds in the north of Europe, making its nest 

 upon the bleak and unsheltered summit of some lofty moun- 

 tain. In such situations Linnseus found their nests and 

 young ones, whilst making his tour of Lapland, in the 

 months of May and June." The eggs, of a rounded form 

 and considerable size, are pure white and from two to four 

 in number, but rarely the latter. 



THE SCOPS -EARED OWL. Scops Aldrovandi. This is a 



