BIRDS OF PREY AND OWLS 



479 



one of the most charming of the many dehghtful 

 sounds that break the stiUness of the summer nights. 

 It is interesting to note that this species is unknown 

 as a wild bird in Ireland. 



Other and fairly common species in England are 

 the L<iXG- and SiiORT-Ex\RED Owls, both remarkable 

 for the fact that the aperture of the ear, which is 

 of enormous size, is of a different shape on the right 

 and left sides of the head. These owls, furthermore, 

 are characterised by the possession of a pair of feath- 

 ery tufts, or " horns," springing from the top of the 

 head, which can be erected or depressed at pleasure. 

 These horns are found in many species of owl not 

 necessarily closely related. The species under con- 

 sideration are of medium size, with large eyes of 

 a most wonderful golden-yellow colour, standing in 

 strong contrast with those of the tawny owl, which 

 are nearly black. Like the tawny owl, these two 

 species, and especially the short-eared, live largely on 

 rats and mice. The last-named bird also devours 

 great nimibers of dor beetles and cockchafers. 



Amongst the largest of the tribe are the 

 Eagle- and Snowy Owls, both of which are 



occasion- 



PlKchl}r A « il I'r ^ ] [WaihingUn 



AMERICAN LONG-EARED OWL 



J'hii 



ffjung bird <ivhich has not yet completely lost its 

 down-feathers 



ally met 



with in Great Britain 



fhM hj IV. e. Dando, F.Z.S.-] iRtgent'l Pari 



TAWNY OWL 



One of the commonest British owls 



The eagle-owl may be de- 

 scribed as a largely magnified long-eared owl in 

 general appearance, though, as a matter of fact, the 

 two are not very closely related. The snowy owl, as 

 its name implies, is white in colour, the white being 

 relieved by more or less conspicuous black mark- 

 ings. This white livery, assimilating with its snowy 

 surroundings, aUows the wearer to approach its prey 

 unperceived on the snow. Whilst the snowy owl is con- 

 fined to northern regions, the eagle-owl enjoys a wide 

 distribution, and is represented by numerous species, 

 one of which, as we have remarked, occasionally 

 visits Great Britain. The larger species of eagle-owl 

 are the most ferocious members of the order, and 

 prey largely upon hares, rabbits, and the large game- 

 birds; whilst the snowy owl, though selecting similar 

 prey, does incalculable good by devouring those de- 

 structive little rodents known as the lemmings. 



Solitary as owls usually are, some, as the 

 Americwn BURRnWiXG-OWLS, live in what may be 

 called colonies ; and, stranger still, they live in bur- 

 rows, which they share with the original excavators. 

 Occurring both in North and South America, it is not 

 surprising to find that the creatures with whom the 

 burrowing-owls elect to take up their abode are very 

 varied, belonging for the most part to numerous groups 

 of burrowing mammalia. In the prairies of North 



