ON THE CRY OF THE WHITE AND BROWN OWLS. 379 
to the reed-beds where the Reed Warbler alone was to be 
heard, we came to the conclusion that no one who has ever 
heard the songs of both birds could ever think of uniting them 
as one species. 
The date was the 2lst of June, but both species were in 
full song. Like the Nightingale, the Marsh Warbler sings long 
after sunset, and perhaps midnight is the best time to hear the 
song to perfection. 
ON THE CRY OF THE WHITE AND BROWN OWLS, 
AND THE SONG OF THE REDWING. 
By tHE Rey. A. Marruews, M.A. 
Somr years ago a good deal was said and written on the 
respective hooting and screeching of the White and Brown Owls. 
I myself took some part in the discussion, and have since 
regarded the controversy as a thing of the past; but Mr. Hart’s 
note, in the June number of ‘ The Zoologist’ (p. 254), has once 
more drawn attention to the subject, and induced me, while 
referring to what I have already stated, to add some facts of 
more recent observation. 
No one could have enjoyed better opportunities for studying 
the life-history of these Owls than did my brother and myself. 
While boys we reared from the nest a young Brown Owl, which 
became so perfectly familiar that confinement was wholly un- 
necessary. From the first he enjoyed unrestricted liberty; as 
soon as he could fly he would accompany us wherever we went, 
and answer our call as obediently as a dog. His tameness con- 
tinued after he had arrived at maturity, and although in the 
following spring he was often visited by wild birds of his own 
species, he never evinced any inclination to associate with them, 
his sole delight appearing to be centred in his masters. This 
state of things continued for two years, and it is needless to add 
that during that time we had abundant means of hearing every 
sound of which his voice was capable, and yet never heard any 
which at all approached a screech. 
Our acquaintance with White Owls was carried on under 
equally favourable conditions. The tower of the parish church at 
Weston-on-the-Green, in Oxfordshire, is a solid square structure, 
