48 



Bird- Lore 



The female was at home on this occasion and made a fine display 

 of temper. 



There was no semblance of a nest other than the rotten wood and 

 some rubbish, made up largely of broken pellets and a few feathers, 

 the former revealing the bones and hair of meadow -mice. The young at 

 this date, May n. had not opened their eyes. 



BARN OWL, ABOUT FIVE WEEKS OLD 



About three weeks later, May 30, another visit found only three 

 young Owls at home. Two of these, as shown in the accompanying 

 photograph, were much larger than the other, — doubtless due to the 

 interval in hatching. 



Their eyes were open, and they made a loud, hissing noise when 

 disturbed, but gave no sign of fear or anger at this age. 



They were entirely covered with a yellowish down, and had more 

 the appearance of young Vultures than Owls, owing to the great appar- 

 ent length of head and beak. 



My next and last visit to the nest was made June 14, and in the in- 

 terim the young Owls — now only two in number — had made much 

 progress toward maturity. The facial disks were well formed, and the wing- 

 and tail-feathers had begun to appear, although they still retained their 

 downy coats. In disposition the change they had made was equally 



