THE TAWNY OWL. 



Strix stridula. 



[HE Tawny or Brown Owl, al- 

 though one of the commonest 

 members of the Owl family, 

 is nevertheless an individual 

 which, from its love of seclu- 

 sion and nocturnal habits, 

 affords the general public 

 but f ew opportunities of culti- 

 vating its acquaintance. 



Thickly-grown woods, dense 

 plantations, and large shrub- 

 beries are the localities in 

 which the bird hides during 

 daylight, and it ventures 

 forth into the open wood only 

 when the shades of twilight 

 are deepening into night. At 

 this time of the day the 

 Tawny Owl, impelled by 

 hunger or the necessities of 

 a young family, quits its re- 

 treat, and commences a slow 

 but exhaustive search for 

 food. 



58 



