THE TAWNY OWL. 177 



the nest hermetically sealed in the bole of the tree. 

 A thousand people might gaze on this tree, in 

 passing by, and still not see a blemish. I myself 

 can just perceive it, by means of a few concentrated 

 lines still visible on the bark ; but, had not the 

 discovery of the nest drawn my attention to the 

 place, I should never have perceived that the eastern 

 part of the tree had formerly received an injury. 

 Mr. Ord was enraptured at the exposition of the 

 ornithological treasure ; and noted down in his 

 pocketbook every thing worthy of record. The 

 tree still stands : and long may it stand, to gratify 

 the curiosity of naturalists. Last year, a pair of 

 barn owls reared their young in it: and, just now, 

 there are eggs in the same place. I made another 

 excavation, in an ash tree about two hundred yards 

 from this ; and, last summer, it gave me an increase 

 of three tawny owls. Throughout the winter, I 

 could, at any time, find them reposing in some 

 neighbouring fir trees. 



The tawny owl generally lays four snow-white 

 eggs in the same hole which it had chosen for its 

 winter quarters. I am satisfied in my own mind, 

 that no owl in the world ever gathers materials to 

 form the lining of its nest. Indeed, there is no 

 necessity whatever for it to take that trouble; 

 nature makes a sufficient provision for the lining of 

 the hole to which the owl resorts, long before the 

 breeding-time sets in. Every species of this bird 

 ejects from the stomach all the indigestible parts of 

 their food, in the shape of a dark-coloured oblong 

 bolus ; which, when dried, is soon reduced to frag- 



