TAWNY OWL. 139 
as referring to the same bird; differences observed in the 
plumage, some specimens being reddish brown or tawny, 
while others were grey, had led to a belief in the existence 
of two distinct species. 
The Tawny Owl is a common bird in most well-wooded 
districts, and is strictly nocturnal m its habits, seldom 
moving or leaving its place of concealment during the day, 
and appears, more than any other species of Owl, to be in- 
commoded by bright light. It imhabits thick woods, or 
strong plantations of evergreens, and at nightfall issues 
forth to seek its food, sometimes visiting small enclosures 
about farm-houses, at others taking a wider range over the 
neighbouring fields. It feeds indiscriminately on leverets, 
young rabbits, moles, rats, mice, birds, frogs, and insects. 
Several writers have proved that this Owl feeds occasion- 
ally on fish, and that it is able to catch either those species 
that swim near the surface in deep water, or the bullhead 
and loach, that are to be found among stones in the shal- 
lowest parts of brooks. 
The eggs of this species are large compared with those of 
either of the three Owls last described. They are smooth 
and white, measuring one inch ten lines in length, by one 
inch six lines in breadth. These, to the number of three 
or four, are usually deposited in a hole im a tree, and, ac- 
cording to Mr. Jenyns, are hatched in April. For a con- 
siderable time the young, covered with a greyish white 
down, are fed in the nest; they afterwards perch among 
the branches of trees near the nest, where the parent birds 
still continue to feed them. The young of this species of 
Owl are said to be more easily reared than others, being 
much less choice in the quality of their food. The note of 
this Owl is a loud and melancholy hoot, most frequently 
heard in the evening. ; 
The Tawny Owl may be traced through the western 
