]06 



THE LONG-EARED OWL. 



them. This was too bad ; a decree went forth against their young Owls, and they paid 

 the penalty of their voracious appetites." 



The voice of the Brown Owl is a loud monotonous hoot, that may be often heard in the 

 evening in localities where the bird has made its home. The nest is usually placed in the 

 hollow of a tree, and contains several white eggs. The colour of the Brown or Tawny Owl 

 is an ashen-grey upon the upper parts of the body, variegated with chocolate and wood- 

 brown. Several whitish-grey bars are seen upon the primaries, and there are several rows 

 of whitish spots upon the wings and scapularies. The facial disc is nearly white, edged 

 with brown, and the under surface of '-the body is of the same hue, covered with longitudinal 

 mottlings of variously tinted brown. The claws are nearly white at their base, darkening 

 towards their extremities, and the beak is nearly of the same colour. The eyes are- of a 

 veiy dark black-blue. 



This species is found in many parts of Europe, and is said to be one of the indigenous 

 birds of Japan. 



l.ONG-EARED OWL.— O^us imtgarls. 



The fine bird which is known by the name of the Ural Owl {Srjrnium Uralense) 

 belongs to the same genus with the barn Owl. This bird is nearly two feet in length, and 

 preys on hares, rabbits, grouse, and other large quarry, after the manner of the eagle OwL 

 It is a native of the colder regions of Europe and Asia, being found in Lapland, Norway, 

 Northern Eussia, and in similar localities. 



We now come to a familiar example of the British Owls, a bird that has attracted 

 great notice on account of its singular aspect. This is the Long-eared Owl, its popular 

 name being derived from the great length of the " ears," or feather-tufts which are placed 

 upon the head, and erect themselves whenever the bird is excited. 



The Long-eared Owl is found in almost all parts of England, and also inhabits portions 

 of Asia, Africa, and America, so that it possesses a very large geographical range. It is 

 not a very large bird, being only fourteen or fifteen inches in length, but is a most 

 rapacious being, preying upon all the smaller mammalia, and capturing the finches and 

 other small birds with as much success as if it were a hawk rather than an Owl. Even 

 moles fall victims to the Long-eared Owl, and in the " castings " of this species have been 

 found the remains of mice, rats, and various birds. 



While the young are still in the nest, the parent birds display a singular assiduity in 

 collecting food for their infant charge, and make sad havoc among the half-fledged nestlings 

 of the neighbourhood. The nest of this species seems seldom to be built by the bird itself, 



