STRIGID^S. 41 



of diet : " January, mice ; February, the same ; 

 March, field mice ; April, the same ; May, the same ; 

 June, the same; July, mice; August, the same; 

 September, field mice and shrews ; October, the 

 same ; November, mice and black rats ; December, 

 mice." There is certainly a great sameness about 

 this dietary-table, but the Barn Owl does un- 

 doubtedly allow himself a little more variety than 

 would here appear ; common rats, as well as mice 

 and small birds, certainly forming a portion of his 

 food at all times ; and Yarrell, on the authority of a 

 note in the ' Magazine of Natural History,' adds fish 

 to the list. He also says that this bird when satis- 

 fied will hide the remains of its food, like the Kestrel 

 and the Buzzard. 



The Barn Owl, it is said, screeches, but does not 

 generally hoot. It is said to make no nest, but to 

 deposit its eggs in the hole of a wall. 



The appearance of this bird is so well known as 

 scarcely to need description. I have, however, added 

 a general description from two specimens in my own 

 collection, as it calls attention to a slight peculiarity 

 not perhaps generally noticed. The beak is white ; 

 hides bluish black ; the facial disk is white, except 

 a patch of rufous before the eyes, the feathers sur- 

 rounding it yellowish buff, on the under part of the 

 face tipped with darkish brown ; all the upper surface 

 yellow, more or less mottled with grey and white ; 

 tail yellowish buff, barred with brown and tipped 



E 3 



