STKIGIDJE. 127 



1868, on the subject of the Barn-Owl, from which we quote a remarkable 

 incident. After describing the contents of various nests which he had 

 examined during a period of many years, finding " four varieties of mice 

 in hoard at one and the same time in the Owl's den (sic) " he adds, " in 

 the months of July and August I have seen the dark, or nearly black, 

 house or barn mouse ; the little red-backed, white-bellied, short-bodied 

 harvest-mouse ; the large, thick-coated, bull-headed, short-tailed grass- 

 mouse ; and the long, sandy, red-backed, white-bellied, long-eared, long- 

 tailed, out-door field, or garden-mouse. Which of these four varieties of 

 mice are the greatest rogues or enemies to mankind, it is not easy to say." 

 After giving instances of the damage done in fields, gardens, and planta- 

 tions, cucumber and melon pits, &c. by these destructive little rodents, 

 he proceeds : — " The depredations of the Hanoverian rat are pretty well 

 known. I never saw in an Owl's den a rat larger than about half- 

 grown, but I have seen many from that size down to broods that have 

 iust run or started from their brood-nest. / never once saiv awj l-'uul of 

 bird, rabbit, leveret, or other animal, besides rats, moles, and mice. Xeither 

 did I ever see a shrew-mouse, dormouse, or sleep-mouse." He one day 

 wished to inspect a Barn-Owl's nest " in the hollow of an immensely 

 large ivy-clad elm-tree that stood on the lawn at no great distance from 

 the mansion. This tree, being within sight of the mansion windows, T 

 did not visit so often. I never can, and I believe I never shall forget, 

 how terribly I was once taken aback, on a visit to this nest, one evening 

 in the month of September. I was crossing the lawn Avhen there arose 

 a heavy thunderstorm. I ran under the leeward side of this tree for 

 shelter. Hearing, while standing there, the young Owlets hissing and 

 snapping their beaks, at once suggested to me to run np and have a look 

 at them. 1 knew they were pretty large and strong. The entrance to 

 their den was about eighteen or twenty feet from the ground, and the 

 tree, as stated, was clothed with large, strong ivy. Up I clambered, and 

 DO sooner had I arrived, and was about having a peep, when, to my great 

 surprise, I found both old birds at home, or hard by ; for, in an instant, 

 I was furiously and most desperately attacked by both. Oh ! what a 

 battering with their wings — pecks with their beaks — scratches and 

 ])inches with their claws — 1 did receive from those two desperate beauties ! 

 I was in no small danger of losing my eyes, or of getting battered down 

 from the tree. I slunk down the best way I could, keeping my face as 

 well sheltered and as near the tree as possible; imfortuiiately my cap 

 was torn or battered off, and fell to the ground in the early part of the 

 battle, and my poor head received a lerrible combing, l);ittering, scratch- 

 ing, and henpecking. >\'hen I arrived on the ground 1 was still attacked, 

 and my cap, lying at a little distance, was not easy to get at. 1 made a 

 desperate eH'ort to ])iek it up. They continued to fly, dart, and bang at 

 me. I ran with all speed to a large Portugal laurel-tree, hard by. !Mine 

 enemies were still whirling rouufl, and watching me. I took out a knife, 

 and cut off a branch, trimming off the side branches, and leaving tlio 

 leaves on the summit. I then sallied forth, with pretty good assurance, 

 ill defence, followed l)y mine enemies for a considerable distance. The 

 branch 1 kept whirling about, and kept them at bay, till llic\ were tired 



