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benefit close by. There is one drawback to having them so near

the house. They will not understand that plate-glass windows

cannot be flown against with impunity. Several doves have

been killed outright, though if only badly stunned, I have found

a little warm milk, and a small quantity of weak brandy and

water, and of course perfect quiet for a short time, will generally

restore them.



THE BREEDING SEASON OF 1899.


By E. G. B. Meade-Waedo.


In recording the results of the past nesting season here,


I am afraid that the readers will consider that there is very little

to relate, which is certainly the case, especially as the most

interesting episode, viz., the breeding of the Scops Owl, has

already been fully described. The Spring this year was a

singularly cold and cheerless one, without a real spring-like day

until the glorious Summer suddenly broke on us, about the end

of May and continued without interruption until September.


Our first nest this year was that of the old Eagle Owls,

who hatched two young ones on April 3rd—this is fully a mouth

later than usual. Both young were reared : which make ninety-

seven reared during my lifetime. Hardly any eggs have been

laid but what have been hatched, and no young one has ever

died, with the exception of one that was choked ; the old pair

going on year after year having their two or three young as

regular as clockwork.


My Ural Owls disappointed me, as, though the hen (who

is very tame) wanted to nest badly and laid eggs, the presumed

cock was too wild to take any interest in the proceedings. He is

tamer now, however, and calls continuously a loud hoot, not

unlike the barking of a fox but with a curious hollow ring in it.

So everything may go well next season. The extraordinary

light and floating flight of this great long-tailed Owl must be

seen to be realized.


This is the first year, for many years, tha.t my Trumpeter

Bullfinches have failed to rear any young ones ; not through any

fault of theirs, however, as a fine brood of six was hatched in

April, but, owing to the lateness of the season, there was

absolutely not a morsel of the weeds they rear their young on,

forward enough to contain the half-ripened seeds that are

necessary. So the young died of starvation, and the old birds

did not nest again, but moulted very early. In their wild state



