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Miss E. F. Chawner,



to his fine bell-tonecl call, and I feel thankful he does not often

indulge in it.


In a flight cage close by, live two charming little Cyprean

Scops Owls, a variety which is said to be restricted to the island of

Cyprus. My birds were hand-reared and are delightfully tame, and

they deserve (and I hope soon will have) a larger place, where their

movements and beautifully variegated plumage can be seen to better

advantage. They are believed to be a true pair, and one is certainly

a trifle larger than the other, but they otherwise appear to be exactly

alike. They are very silent, but the smaller one utters a low croak

when hungry. Mealworms are regarded as a great dainty and they

take them from my hand with the utmost gentleness. When I

received them I was warned that they have enormous appetites and

cannot fast for more than a few hours. Next to mealworms, they

love a cockchafer grub, and can accommodate seven or eight in their

crops at a meal, gulping down surprisingly large ones. As staple

food I give them mice or sparrows, according to the state of the

larder ; they will eat chopped-up rabbit, but prefer the smaller and

more natural food.


I am much looking forward to seeing them in an aviary

instead of a cage, as I expect they will then be less sluggish than

they appear at present. They bathe fairly often and keep themselves

in very good order, though one had the misfortune some months ago

to break the tip of its upper mandible clean off, which put it at a

disadvantage in preening its feathers as well as tearing its food. It

was glad of help for several weeks, but I am glad to say the damage

is nearly repaired. We have so far not had any really severe

weather, but I believe these Scops will prove hardy, provided their

food is not allowed to freeze before they have satisfied their hunger.


A little further on stands what is known as “ the four Owls’

house.” Herein live a hen English Tawny Owl, a cock (?) Sharpe’s

Wood Owl, and a true pair of S. American Burrowing Owls. The

two Wood Owls are very friendly together, and as the others have

their private fastness underneath a large stump, it is hoped that they

will continue together in harmony. The Tawny Owl is a hand-

reared specimen—the gift of a former Sunday school boy on his

enlistment into the Artillery. Since that event it is hard to say



