Hawks amd Owls. 339 



consists of mice and beetles, except when a small bird falls a victim. A pair we kept for seven 

 years once gave signs of breeding, but unfortunately the eggs were broken. They should be 

 fed as the Peregrine. 



The SparrOW-Hawk is not a very tamable bird, and cannot be so well recommended 

 as the preceding. When wild nothing in the shape of small birds seems to be safe from the 

 ravages of this rapacious little freebooter, even partridges and chickens having good reason to 

 fear its dreaded onslaught. In confinement it is rather dirty, and should always be reared from 

 the nest, feeding as the rest of the tribe. 



The Barn or Screech Owl is the commonest of British Owls, and is often kept as a pet. 

 It is the only one of the tribe that is in the habit of frequenting buildings, a church-tower being 

 often selected as its home, otherwise any old building or hollow tree is chosen, and from these 

 resorts it issues at nightfall in search of food, which consists principally of mice and beetles, the 

 former especially suffering when the parent Owls have a nest of young to feed. We were once 

 successful in breeding three young. 



This bird should be fed upon mice, sparrows, or any small birds, raw beef or mutton, 

 pieces of chicken's heads and necks, &c. The floor of its cage should be strewn with fresh 

 sawdust, as by this means much of the noxious smell is obviated, a result not obtainable by 

 sand. 



The Tawny, Brown, or Wood Owl, as its latter name denotes, generally frequents woods, 

 building in the holes of the trees. If reared from the nest it becomes very tame and docile, and 

 should be fed and treated as the Barn OwJ. 



The Long and Short Eared Owls are more uncommon than the preceding. They are 

 smaller, and have tufts of feathers on either side of the head, which can be elevated or depressed 

 at pleasure. The Short-eared Owl only visits the south of England during the winter, and is more 

 difficult to keep ; it must be given a mouse or bird at least three times a week. The Long-eared 

 Owl may be fed as the Barn Owl. 



The Snowy and Eagle Owls being very fine, handsome birds, are often kept in confine- 

 ment, where they have both been known to breed. They should be fed as the Barn Owl, adding 

 to their food, whenever obtainable, rats or rabbits. 



