The Tawny Owl. 69 



bird, has been well-nigh extcnninatcd in many dislricls b}- gamekeepers in l)ie 

 supposed interest of their Pheasants. It is almost nseless to plead with 

 them in the poor Owl's behalf.- -" See these 'ere talons/" says the man in 

 velveteens, "see this 'ere beak? don't tell me he don't eat game," and although 

 sometimes with a view to a tip, some nnfortunate may be momentarily spared, 

 yet the tree in which he has harboured has been marked, and on the first 

 opportunity he has been added to the other victims in the keeper's larder. If 

 it eould only be considered that, in the night season, when the Tawny (Jw\ 

 comes abroad to hunt, all young Pheasants are either safe within their coops, or 

 liovered by their mothers in the covers, the poor bird might be acquitted of 

 mischief which it is not possible for it to perpetrate. .As the Owl beats over the 

 fields it is not to be denied that, once in a way, a young Partridge or two ma}? 

 be snatched off the ground, especially when there is a brood of hungrj' Owlets 

 to maintain, and Lord Lilford admits " I cannot acquit the bro\\-n Owl of an 

 occasional bit of poaching, but I am convinced that such occurrences are excep- 

 tional, and, in defence of a very favourite bird, may refer mj- readers to the 

 result of an examination of two hundred and ten pellets, composed of the indi- 

 gestible portions of food thrown up by birds of this species quoted in Yarrell's 

 British Birds, 4th Ed., p. 148." In these pellets the remains of six rats, 

 forty-two mice, two hundred and ninety-six voles, thirty-three shrews, forty-eight 

 moles, eighteen small birds, forty-eight beetles, besides a countless number of 

 cockchafers, were discovered, incontestably proving the general innocent nature of 

 the Tawny Owl's bill of fare. 



It is in woodland districts that the Tawny Owl is most numerous, and when 

 dusk has shrouded the countr}^ hoot may be heard answering hoot, and ver\' eas}- 

 it is by imitating the call to procure answers from all the Owls within hearing. 

 In a wooded valley in Wales no fewer than twent3'-six separate Hooters were thus 

 provoked to reply one fine moonlight night in the autumn. The \\'ood Owl 

 hoots when it first flies forth at dark, and at intervals throughout the night, 

 seeming to prefer a still moonlight night when it is most vociferous,- and again 

 at dawn ; and frequentl}^ in the pairing time, the hoots may be heard, off and 

 on, throughout the day. An admirer and friend of this Owl, after long observa- 

 tion, imagined that he had discovered in its hootiugs unfailing indications of 

 the weather, reporting " I have for years obser\-ed that when the Owl is merr\- 

 at early dawn we are pretty sure of a fine day. Also, if he is merrv at earl}- 

 evening, we are prett}^ sure of a fine quiet night. While, if the Owl breaks out 

 with ' Hoo-hoo-hoo-Too-vit ' b}- da}-, and takes a flight, storm}- w-eather is sure 

 to pretty soon follow." During the daj^ the Tawny Owl sleeps in his favourite 



Vol. ni M 



