378 EAPTOEBS, OE BIEDS OP PEET. 



When wounded so as to be unable to fly, and attacked by dogs, 

 tbe Great Owl will sell its life as dearly as possible ; for, turning 

 upon its back, with open claws and menacing bill it presents an 

 appearance to its enemies which is enough to make the bravest 

 shrink from the assault. 



In spite of this combative temperament, the Great Owl easily 

 becomes tame; it knows its name, and comes at the call of 

 its master. Perfect liberty may then be safely allowed it, as 

 it will remain in the neighbourhood of its home, returning at 

 meal-times. Frisch relates that he twice kept birds of this kind, 

 and that they lived for a considerable time ; he fed them on ox- 

 flesh and liver. They would sometimes swallow as many as five 

 mice without stopping, having first broken their bones with blows 

 from their bills. In case of necessity they would eat fish. Some 

 hours after taking their food, they ejected the bones and hair of 

 their victims. Instances have been known, however, in which 

 this Owl would not submit to confinement. 



The Great Owl is possessed of the strongest attachment to 

 its young. M. Cronstedt, a Swiss gentleman, lived for several 

 j^ears on a farm situated at the foot of a mountain, on the top of 

 which a couple of Great Owls built their nest. The servants 

 caught and shut up in a hen-house one of the young birds, 

 which the thirst for rapine had doubtless impelled premature^ 

 to leave the maternal abode. The next morning they were sur- 

 prised to find at the door of the hen-house a freshly-killed 

 Partridge. The idea was that the parent birds, attracted by the 

 cries of the young Owl, had thus provided for its sustenance. 

 The same thing occurred fourteen days running. M. Cronstedt, 

 wishing to cOme to a right understanding on the matter, 

 watched during several nights in order to surprise the hen bird 

 in this act of maternal love. But he failed, probably because 

 the bird, thanks to its penetrating sight, took advantage to leave 

 her ofispring's provisions at a moment when his attention 

 was diverted. These parental duties ceased in the month of 

 August, when the young bird became capable of providing for 

 itself. 



The Great Owl inhabits Europe and Asia, but is common in 

 Switzerland and Italy. It is not often met with in France, except 



