35 



THE LONG-EARED OWL. 

 (Asia otus.) 



In the wooded districts of Great Britain this handsome 

 Owl is always to be found; the numbers bred here are 

 augmented also by a considerable number which come 

 to us in autumn from the Continent. It is a larger bird 

 than the Short-eared species and it lives much in the 

 same way as the Brown Owl. These two are not so 

 fastidious in their way of feeding as the White Owl. It 

 lives on small birds, rodents, bats, fish, reptiles and large 

 insects. Some have accused it of taking birds up to the 

 size of a Plover, but the late Lord Lilford stated that 

 he had never heard any complaint of its destruction of 

 game in those districts where it was comparatively 

 common ; the castings of this species which he examined 

 were mainly composed of the remains of greenfinches, 

 sparrows and field mice. It is often seen flying about 

 by daylight and it has been known to pick up and carry 

 off wounded birds. It is said to be much disliked by 

 other birds possibly the last mentioned habit may be 

 at the bottom of this strong feeling on their part, also 

 its appropriation of other birds' nests. The note of the 

 hungry young birds of this species is a loud mewing. 



The prophet Isaiah had not very pleasant associations 

 with Owls, it would seem. When speaking of desolated 

 places, he says, " Owls shall dwell there, and satyrs 

 shall dance there . . . the screech owl also shall rest 

 there . . . the great owl make her nest ..." 



Alluding to the death of Julius Csesar or rather to 

 the omens that preceded it Shakespeare wrote : 



