OWLS. 183 



it is a hoot, the syllables used to represent it changing with 

 the kesnness of the listener's ear. We thus have "hoo-hoo" 

 from one naturalist, "boo-boo" from another, and "poo-hoo'' 

 from a third. But that is not all, the bark and the hooing 

 may be varied by a screech, especially from the female and 

 during the breeding season, whilst, brought to close quarters, 

 either male or female. is possessed of a very vicious hiss, and 

 a suggestive snapping of the beak which is of a particularly 

 warning nature. The note of the young birds varies between 

 a hissing and a piping tone. Two or three form the broods, 

 and they are hatched, in common with those of the young of 

 the whole family, from white rounded eggs. The nesting 

 place varies according to circumstances. Either rocks or 

 trees may be selected, or old ruins, and even occasionally, 

 as though to emphasize the connexion between these and the 

 burrowing owls, a hollow in the ground. Usually the same 

 site is kept to year after year, if the birds are left undisturbed; 

 and the nest is large, composed of branches, sticks, twigs, etc. 

 lined with leaves, moss, or other soft material. 



The male of the eagle owl weighs about seven pounds, 

 twice the weight of an ordinary well-fed cock-pheasant. To 

 carry so heavy a body and also the weight of its prey, which 

 may easily double its own, the wings are very large and 

 powerful, expanding to a length of something over five feet. 

 The female is sometimes as much as a pound more in weight 

 than her lord and master — if such a term is applicable 

 among the raptores, which is much to be doubted. She is 

 somewhat longer, also, and has darker tints. The young are 

 quite white at first. 



There is a Central Asian variety of Bubo maximus, 

 which is known as B. Turcomanus. I am unable to say with 

 Certainty whether our eastern representative belongs' to the 

 European or to the Central Asian variety, or whether both 

 are represented. The chief difference seems to be that the 

 latter is somewhat paler in colour. Colour, however, depends 

 so much on climatic conditions allied to special states of 

 environment that it counts for little in determining species. 

 The same bird takes on quite a different appearance when 

 removed to widely different conditions, and experiments have 

 proved that colouring can be changed almost at will if suitable 

 means are at hand. 



Barry Sullivan's well known song will serve as a fitting 

 close to these notes. I quote two verses : 



In the hollow tree, in the old grey tower 



The spectral owl doth dwell: 

 Dull, hated, despised in the sunshine hour, 



But at dusk he's abroad and well! 



