BIRDS' NESTS. 55 



CHAPTER IV. 



EGGS WHITE, WITHOUT SPOTS. 



THE BARN OWL. Strix flammea. 



PLATE I. EIG. 5. 



THIS bird builds its nest or rather lays its 

 eggs, for the nest is a very simple structure 

 in barns, churches, ruins of all kinds, and in 

 hollow trees. Its eggs, which are from four 

 to six in number, are pure white, about an inch 

 and a half long, or rather more, and are much 

 rounded at the smaller end. It has been ob- 

 served, that the nest of this bird sometimes con- 

 tains eggs and young birds at the same time ; 

 and one instance in particular has been noticed 

 of a nest which contained two eggs, and when 

 these were hatched, two more were laid, which 

 latter were probably hatched by the warmth of 

 the young birds ; a third laying taking place 

 after the latter were hatched ; and the nest at 



