SHORT-EARED OWL. EAGLE OWL. 25 



seldom observed after April, and in no authenticated instance 

 has it been known to remain and breed. Best known in Ire- 

 land by the appellation of woodcock owl, the name is most 

 probably derived from its arriving at the same time as that 

 bird, and not from preying upon it. Although instances have 

 occurred where this species has been shot with a common 

 snipe " in possession," yet the woodcock is too large a bird to 

 be struck down by a mousing owl. 



A bird at one time in my possession, which had been 

 slightly wounded, employed a curious place for stowing 

 away his provender. On the occasion of a mouse being flung 

 to him, in most cases it was instantly caught by the bill, and 

 held there whilst he was aware of being watched ; on the head 

 being averted, the mouse disappeared in an instant between 

 the wing and body, and his orange irides, with the nictitat- 

 ing peculiarities of the owl, appeared almost as if winking at 

 his own success. A second mouse was disposed of under the 

 other wing, whilst a third lay neglected before him until he 

 was left undisturbed to dispose of his hidden spoil. 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



GENUS XI BUBO (EAGLE OWL). 



SPECIES 23 THE EAGLE OWL. 



Bubo maximus. Sibbald. 

 Hibou grand- due. Temm. 



THIS fine species, remarkable for its great size and the 

 beauty of its plumage, has in no instance been actually ob- 

 tained in Ireland, our knowledge of its occurrence being 

 limited to four birds, which were observed in Donegal after 

 a great storm from the north, when the ground was covered 

 with snow. 



The same informant, Mr. J. Y. Stewart, from whose cata- 

 logue of the birds of Donegal the above has been obtained, has 

 also observed, " that he was informed a pair of them bred in 

 Tory Island, about nine miles from the north of this coast, 

 whence it is probable they came from that island." 



Respecting their breeding in that locality, in such vicinity 

 to the main land, Mr. Thompson has remarked: " It must be 

 a mere fancy on the part of the individual who made the 

 communication to Mr. Stewart." 



One of the largest of its family, the strength of the eagle 



