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Owls’ nests and their contents.



Barn Owl’s nest; generally they are about a quarter grown or less,

and I can hardly believe they would tackle a large one. About

June 9th Mr. Q. E. Gurney found the remains of two moles in a

Barn Owl’s nest, and this I regard as most unusual food, but it was

in the same parish where a mole was found before (‘ Zool.,’ 1910,

p. 136)—a parish where these little burrowers are very plentiful. On

revisiting the nest with my nephew on the 19th two Barn Owls flew

out, but there were no more moles, only some mice pellets and one

egg. On July 3rd there were five eggs, and on the 15th six. On the

27tli three of them were hatched, and on August 4th the other two

were hatched.


A Tawny Owl’s nest with young in a pigeon-locker at Intwood,

and about the same time another nest, also with young, was seen by

Mr. B. B. Biviere at Colton. In the same locker a pair of Jackdaws,

were nesting, but the tame Pigeons had apparently forsaken it,

perhaps from suspicion of such predatory neighbours. The Tawny

Owl is apt to be very aggressive when it has young, and it is

dangerous to approach the nest without a stick.


Three young Tawny Owls were observed by the gardener near

an “ owl-tub ” at Northrepps, doubtless a family party. I believe

there has always been one pair in this wood, except when the

vindictiveness of game-preserving, or an accident—such a&getting

down a chimney—has spoilt it. Wherever they are they soon make

their presence known ; noticeable also is the constancy with which

they cling to a suitable locality. In May Mr. C. B. Ticehurst saw a

party of six young Barn Owls at Ellingham. I have never seen a

nest with more than four nestling Tawny Owls. I omitted to state

last year that from a Tawny Owl, shot near Norwich, Mr. Roberts

took four large beetles, identified by Mr. H. Thouless as Geotrupes

spiniger and G. stercorarius.


During July Mr. T. E. Gunn pointed out a Barn Owl heavily

spotted on the flanks, belly, and lower chest, which had been sent in

from North Walsham, remarking that in a long experience he had

invariably found that the spotted ones were females. I have heard

this before, and am surprised not to see it alluded to in any of our

standard works as a sexual distinction.


A Barn Owl’s nest in a hollow elm at Ellingham contained, in



