98 CASSELL'S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



possession of one that has been deserted by some Crow or squirrel. The four white eggs that 

 constitute its brood are laid about March. The female continues sitting for three weeks, and is, 

 meanwhile, fed and carefully tended by her mate, who remains almost constantly by her side, and 

 expresses his affection by frequently uttering loud cries, and occasionally beating the air violently with 

 his wings. The nestlings require an unusual amount of food, for which they clamour incessantly ; if 

 taken before they are fledged they may be readily tamed. 



THE MARSH OWL. 



The Marsh Owl (Otus brachyotus) is closely allied to the bird above described, and is found 

 in all parts of the globe, with the exception of New Holland. The head of this species is smaller than 

 that of the Woodland Owl, and its long wings reach far beyond the tail. The tufts above the ears are 

 composed of from two to four feathers, and the plumage is principally of a bright but pale yellow ; the 

 feathers upon the head and lower parts of the body have black shafts, whilst those of the wing-covers 

 are yellow upon the outer and black upon the inner web ; they are likewise tipped with black. The 

 quills of the tail are striped with greyish brown. The radiating feathers upon the face are whitish 

 grey, and the eyes light yellow. The young are somewhat darker than their parents. The length 

 of this bird is from fourteen to sixteen inches, and its breadth from forty to forty-two inches. 



The peculiar characteristics of the Marsh Owls are their preference for fens and bogs, and their 

 practice of wandering from one place to another ; they frequent all the northern parts of the globe, 

 and are by no means rare in any of the countries in which they are seen ; in the more southern 

 latitudes they appear about October, and leave again in the month of March. At night they fly 

 softly and slowly in search of mice, lemmings, and insects, upon which they chiefly subsist ; and 

 usually pass the day amidst the grass and reeds that overspread their favourite haunts ; if disturbed 

 they crouch to the ground, and allow the enemy to approach quite close, then, rising suddenly, they 

 hover in the air, or soar to a very considerable height. Their voice is gentle, and their anger expressed 

 by snapping violently with the beak. The nest is extremely simple in its construction, and invariably 

 placed upon the ground. The female lays three or four white eggs about May. 



The DWARF EARED OWLS (Scops) are recognisable by their large heads, long wings, in 

 which the second quill exceeds the rest in length, short slightly-rounded tail, high sparsely-feathered 

 tarsi, and bare toes. The beak is powerful and much curved, the plumage smooth and variegated, the 

 ear-tufts short, and the feathers that surround the aperture of the ear but slightly developed. The 

 members of this group inhabit Southern Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. From these we shall 

 select the European species as a type of the rest. 



THE DWARF EARED OWL. 



The Dwarf Eared Owl (Ephialtes Scops) is from six to seven inches long, and from eighteen 

 to nineteen broad ; the wing measures five inches and two-thirds, and the tail about two and a half. 

 The plumage is very striking ; the upper part of the body is reddish brown, shaded with grey, and 

 streaked and spotted with black ; upon the wings the spots are white, the region of the shoulder is 

 dashed with red ; the under side is a mixture of brownish red and greyish white. The beak and feet 

 are blueish grey, and the eyes light brimstone yellow. The sexes closely resemble each other in 

 plumage, but that of the young is more sombre and less variegated. 



The Dwarf Eared Owls are numerous in Southern Europe, and at certain seasons are met with in 

 its more central portions, where they arrive early in the year, and leave again for warmer latitudes 

 about September. Their migrations are performed in large flocks, and often extend as far as the 



