140 



KEARTONS' NATURE PICTURES 



EOGS OK TFIK TAWNY OWL. 



ing in such a situation by a vigilant 

 blackbird, the alarm is promptly given, 

 and the owl is mobbed by all the small 

 birds in the neighbourhood, whose shrill 

 voices may be heard at a considerable 

 distance, engaged in an angry chorus of 

 protest. 



This species feeds upon voles, mice, 

 rats, young rabbits, birds, frogs, and, 

 occasionally, fish. The undigested parts, 



such as bones, fur and feathers, are 

 ejected in the form of lengthened pellets, 

 in the same way that cherry stones are 

 returned by the mouth in the case of 

 blackbirds and thrushes. 



If an adequate supply of mammalian 

 food can be secured, the owl under 

 notice is a comparatively harmless crea- 

 ture, but if it cannot, heavy toll is taken, 

 especially of the young of blackbirds, 

 thrushes, and other feathered denizens of 

 the woods. 



The eggs of this species are laid on 

 decayed wood in hollow trees, on old 

 hay in barns, and not infrequently in 

 the disused nests of crows, rooks, mag- 

 pies, hawks, and even wood-pigeons. 

 They number three or four, are pure 

 white, and laid during April or May, 

 although clutches may sometimes be 

 found later. 



After the young ones have fledged they 

 sit about in the shady parts of trees, and 

 are fed by their parents even when they 

 can fly well and appear capable of 

 obtaining prey for themselves. 





