SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



77 



they have seen this owl among their young 

 pheasants, and have therefore shot it ; but it has 

 been proved more than once by dissection that the 

 bird was merely catching the mice which were 

 feeding on the corn left by the young pheasants. 



The usual nesting place of this owl is a hollow 

 tree, but sometimes the disused nest of a crow, 

 magpie, or jackdaw is selected, and we once found 

 their eggs in the top of a fir tree, the branches of 

 which were naturally interwoven, thus forming a 

 sort of platform. These birds make no nest, and 

 if a hole in a tree is chosen the eggs are laid upon 

 the wood dust at the bottom of the hole, while a 

 quantity of pellets and a few feathers are usually 

 found intermixed with the wood dust. They resort 



bill has no strength, and the finger may be put 

 harmlessly into the mouth. These birds are very 

 easily reared, and become very tame in captivity, 

 although treacherous at times as they get older. 

 They may be fed on almost any uncooked flesh, 

 but young birds and mice are especially relished. 



Although the tawny owl can live for a long time 

 without water, he, nevertheless, enjoys a bath 

 immensely. Standing in the water, he spreads 

 out his wings and tail and throws it in showers 

 all over himself. He emerges from his bath the 

 very picture of bedraggled misery, but soon dries 

 himself by vigorous pluming. 



The old birds defend their young very courage- 

 ously. A man we know was savagely attacked 



Tawny Owls. 



to the same nesting-place year after year. The 

 eggs are nearly round and perfectly white, and 

 from three to five are laid. The bird commences 

 to sit as soon as the first egg is laid, so that there 

 is often a considerable difference in the age of the 

 young ones found in the same nest. They are 

 hatched in three weeks, and are blind for the first 

 few days. 



An owlet of a few weeks old is a most grotesque 

 object. It is covered all over with greyish down, and 

 out of this downy ball appear two large eyes and 

 a beak. If one should look into the nest the owlets 

 snap their beaks and hiss courageously. However, 

 until they begin to get their feathers the snapping 



by the parent bird, while climbing a tree with 

 the intention of taking some owlets. Hearing 

 his approach the owl flew out of her nest and 

 struck the unfortunate man with both feet, piercing, 

 with the long sharp claw, one of his eyes, so that 

 he lost the sight of it, and all but inflicting the 

 same injury on the other eye. 



Should the hoot of the tawny owl be heard no 

 more, our woods would lose one of their chiet 

 charms by night, and if this useful bird is extermi- 

 nated the farmer will soon find that he has lost 

 one of his best friends. 



i, Eliot Place, Blackheath, Kent ; 



April, 1S9+. 



