cliffs, or in dense foliage, during the daytime, and sallies 

 forth at dusk in qncst of its prey, which consists of 

 birds, and, where they exist, hares and rabbits. In 

 Epirns I am convinced that, during the autnmn and 

 winter months, these Owls fed principally upon wild- 

 fowl, which they seized as they were feeding on the 

 open marshy lands by night. This bird is a very early 

 breeder, usually commencing to lay early in February ; 

 the eggs are pure white, much rounded in shape, and 

 generally from two to four in number ; very little nest 

 is made, the eggs being generally laid on a bare earthy 

 ledge of cliff (I am, of course, only writing of my own 

 experience). 



The Eagle-Owl will live in confinement for a great 

 number of years, if not over-fed and allowed to take 

 a sun-bath when so inclined. We have reared several 

 young of this species at Lilford from eggs laid in the 

 aviaries, but from some hitherto unexplained cause have 

 not of late years met with the success in this direction 

 that has attended other English possessors of these Owls 

 in captivity. 



