EAGLE-OWLS. 167 



of the feathers ; and the same colours, but arranged in transverse bars, occupy the 

 primary quills and tail-feathers. On the face-disc the feathers are light brown 

 with greyish black speckles; while the breast is pale brown, with longitudinal 

 streaks of darker brown, and the remainder of the under-parts are shades of 

 brown banded with darker bars. 



The great eagle-owl inhabits the greater part of Europe and Northern Asia, 

 the Central Asian form (B. turcomanus) being paler than ordinary. In Asia it 

 extends as far south as the Pangong Lake and the Himalaya ; and it has also been 

 obtained from North- Eastern Africa. Common in Scandinavia and South 

 Germany, this owl is rare in Denmark ; and although not unfrequent in Italy, is 

 unknown in Sardinia. Many of the specimens taken in England have been birds 

 escaped from captivity. The eagle-owl is one of the boldest and most rapacious 

 of the European birds of prey, attacking and devouring young fawns, hares, 

 rabbits, other small rodents, capercaillie, grouse, pheasants, and many smaller 

 birds, as well as reptiles and frogs. Mainly nocturnal, it appears early in the 

 evening, and can fly well and strongly in the daylight. Its cry has been compared 

 to the syllables 600, 600. When reposing during the day, the eagle-owl usually sits 

 with its feathers ruffled up, and thus appears much larger than it really is. When 

 irritated it spreads and drops its wings in the manner represented in our illus- 

 tration, at the same time snapping its beak and hissing, and thus rushes with 

 flaming eyes at its aggressor in the most menacing manner. Although it is said 

 that when attacked by the golden eagle it will come off victorious, this owl appears 

 to be quarrelsome rather than really courageous, and in the daytime will take 

 wing immediately on the approach of an intruder. When detected on its perch, it 

 is immediately mobbed by a host of smaller birds, generally led by a crow. The 

 breeding-season commences in the latter half of March or the beginning of April ; 

 and the two or three eggs are usually laid on a ledge or shelf of rock with but 

 little if any attempt at a nest. Occasionally, however, a large nest of twigs is 

 formed, which, in the absence of suitable rocks may be placed in a tree ; while 

 sometimes the eggs are deposited in a hole in the ground. The young are hatched 

 in about three weeks, and are able to fly in eight weeks after birth, although they 

 frequently remain in the nest for some time longer. This owl breeds freely in 

 captivity. 



The Virginian eagle-owl is a somewhat smaller bird, distinguished 

 by the head and neck being of the same hue as the blackish back 

 instead of yellowish and lighter. It ranges over the whole of North, and extends 

 into Central America, and is liable to great local variation in colour. In cultivated 

 districts this owl inflicts much damage on poultry yards, killing all kinds of birds, 

 from turkeys down to young chickens, and frequently merely devouring the hearts 

 of its numerous victims. Where the primitive forests have been destroyed, the 

 owls breed in the deserted nests of eagles, hawks, or crows, but elsewhere nest in 

 hollow trees. Usually there are but two or three eggs, although occasionally four 

 or five ; and so early in the year are these laid that in Nova Scotia and Newfound- 

 land they are not unfrequently found frozen in the nest. The Indian eagle-owl or 

 rock horned owl (B. bengalensis), may be taken as an example of the second group 

 of the genus, in which the covering of the feathers on the toes is more or less 



