188 BRITISH BIRDS. 



to North-east Africa*- LocLe, however^, records it as common ia Algeria, 

 especially in the mountains and forests, where it breeds. 



As its range extends eastwards the Eagle Owl becomes larger and paler — 

 examples from the Volga and Archangel gradually leading on to the 

 Arctic form, which has received the name of B. sihiricus f. This sub- 

 species inhabits Siberia, extending its range southwards to Persia, Tur- 

 kestan, Afghanistan, the Himalayas, and probably Mongolia. In the valley 

 of the Amoor the colour again becomes more rufous, until in Japan and 

 China the typical European bird reappears. The Arctic form has not 

 occurred in the British Islands. 



On the American continent the Eagle Owl is replaced by a nearly allied 

 species, B. virr/iiiiatius, a bird of very similar habits, and differing from the 

 Old- World form in being smaller (length of wing not exceeding 16 inches). 

 Like the Eagle Owl, it appears to be subject to much climatic variation; 

 and Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway separate it into no less than 

 four subspecies or races. 



The Eagle Owl is one of the most powerful of rapacious birds, and is 

 principally nocturnal in its habits ; but when disturbed in the daytime it 

 seems little troubled by the light, and is extremely shy and difficult to 

 approach. As with most of the nocturnal birds of prey, we know but little 

 of the habits of this species. It usually remains in its retreat in some 

 secluded rocky pass, or in the depths of the forest, throughout the day, 

 coming out in the dusk in quest of food. Its flight is powerful, yet, like 

 all Owls, almost noiseless, so that it drops upon its prey completely un- 

 awares. Its deep, loud, hooting cry, sounding strangely weird and startling 

 in the dark and silent woods, or when the bird is passing overhead, is 

 well calculated to inspire the superstitious natives with awe; and no wonder 

 the bird figures so prominently in the various native legends as a bird of 

 doom and death. Except in the pairing-season, it is said to rarely utter 

 its note, which resembles the syllables oo-hoo modulated in various ways. 



Few rapacious birds are so destructive to large game as the Eagle Owl. 

 Even the powerful Capercailsie, the Blackcock, and the Hazel-Grouse are 



* lu Xortli Africa a neariy allied bird occurs, JBnbo ascalaphus, which may have been 

 possibly confused with, or mistaken for, the present specie.^. 



t The synonymy of the Arctic form of this Owl is as under : — 



Asio bubo laponicus, Bi iss. Orn. i. p. 480 (17G0). 



8tiix scandiaca, Linn. Si/st. Nat. i. p. 1.)'2 (17(10). 



Bubo albus, Bmul Traite, ii. p. 210 (1800). 



Strix turcomana, Eversin. Add. Pall. Zootjr. fasc. i. p. G (18.".j). 



Strix sibirica, Susem. Vog. Eur. pi. xliy. (1S40). 



Bubo oiuereus, Eversin. fde Gray, Gcii. J3. i. pi. xiii. (ISJ-")). 



Bubo sibiricus (ScMei/.), Graij, Cat. AccipUr. Brit. Mus. p. 90 (1848). 



Bubo scandiacus {Linn.), Cab. Joiirn. Orn. 1854, p. oU7. 



Bubo paUidus, Brehm, Naum. 18.55, p. 270. 



Bubo hemachalana, Hume, Stray Feath. 187.'', p. 315. 



