MONTAGU'S HARRIER.— TAWNY OWL. 27 



he saw it on its nest among the furzes on the Downs above 

 FalmeTj and that he threw himself upon it with such force 

 that he killed the bird and broke the eggs. I did not hear 

 how many, there were. I may here remark that it is a 

 common habit of poachers^ at least in Sussex, to catch hares 

 and rabbits by throwing themselves upon them in their seats 

 or forms. 



Mr. Booth remarks that about twenty-five years ago he 

 procured eggs, which must have belonged to this species, 

 from an extensive stretch of furze, known in the district as 

 "The Horthy Field." This was near Catsfield, in the east 

 of Sussex. In this parish was Catsfield House, the residence 

 of the celebrated Markwick. 



STRIGID-ffil. 



TAWNY OWL. 



StriiC aluco. 



In Sussex this species, which is generally known by the 

 name of the Wood-Owl, though not so abundant as formerly, 

 is still to be found in the large oak woods, and in most of 

 the parks where there are old trees of any size. I can of 

 my own knowledge mention the following in the west : — 

 Cowdray, Petworth, Burton, Knepp, West Grinstead, and 

 Up Park ; and in the east Stanmer, Fletching, Firle, and 

 Ashburnham. Being lately at a birdstuffer's shop in 

 Horsham, I saw no fewer than seven specimens of all ages, 

 and was told that the bird is by no means scarce in that 

 neighbourhood, which abounds with old elms, full of hollows 

 in their trunks and branches, where they find most suitable 



