EAGLE OWL. 107 



Their broad wings and loose feathering enable them to fly 

 with exceeding lightness and buoyancy, and the serrated 

 edge, which is observable on the outer web of several of the 

 larger quill-feathers, greatly contributes to their noiseless flight, 

 and enables them to steal unheard upon their prey. During 

 the day they are usually asleep, or they sit quietly with half- 

 closed eyes, watching with great attention all that takes place 

 around them : motionless, and with feathers smoothed, they 

 lean sideling against a tree or wall, so that the unaccustomed 

 eye may easily overlook them. They are fond of lonely 

 gloomy places, dark recesses in the forest, or hollow trees 

 in the woods, fissures in rocks, or recesses in old ruins. In 

 such places they sit concealed during the day, but as soon as 

 the gloom of the evening sets in they begin to be on the 

 alert, and steal forth in search of food. At this time they 

 take birds from their nest, or snatch them from their roosting 

 place : animals also that come forth under cover of night in 

 fancied security become their prey ; of the murine tribe es- 

 pecially are destroyed innumerable quantities. 



The larger species of Owls take hares, rabbits, and other 

 animals, and are very destructive among grouse, and birds 

 of similar size. The larger animals and birds are torn in 

 pieces, the smaller are usually swallowed whole, and the bones, 

 hair, or feathers, ejected in the form of long pellets. In this 

 process they open the beak wide, lower the head, writhe and 

 violently shake the body until the pellet is disgorged. 



The breeding-places of Owls are mostly chosen in holes 

 in trees or old buildings, in rocks or caves : their nests are 

 slightly and rudely constructed, and the eggs of all the species 

 are white and rounded in form. Owls exhibit great attach- 

 ment to their young, and have been known to supply with 

 food for a considerable time such as have been caught and 

 caged. 



The Eagle Owl figured in the plate was drawn from a 



