These birds generally return year after j'ear to their old 

 breeding holes, rarely seeking a new one unless obliged by 

 circumstances to do so. 



They are very savage when attacked or captured, and 

 woe to the careless hand thrust into their nests. 



I have a very marked variety of this species shot in 

 November, 1867, at Ramsbury, in which there is a very 

 white shade prevailing in the feathers of the wings, back, 

 and tail. 



This species also is occasionally kept in confinement, but 

 it never becomes tame, and is always ready to attack even 

 its owner. 



Syrnium Stridula. 



Tawny Old. 



LOCAL NAME. EGCI OBSERVED. YOL'XG BIRDS. 



Brown Owl. April 12th, 1865. April 29th, 1868. 



March 3rd, 1867. May 10th, 1869. 

 1870. 



This is the last of our resident owls and still one of the 

 commonest, though war to the knife exists between it and 

 the keepers. 



Besides danger from the gun, this poor bird also has 

 another enemy. Certain men living chiefly in Savernake 

 Forest, where the bird is commonest, have become wonder- 

 fully skilled in noosing them as they come out of the 

 hollow trees in which they live. 



