108 STRIGID.E. 



fine male bird in the Zoological Gardens. While sketching 

 the male, our attention was attracted to his companion, who 

 sat on the ground at the bottom of the cage, shuffling with 

 her feet and wings in the sand. After some time, on shift- 

 ing her position, we perceived that she had laid an egg. 

 Being anxious to obtain the dimensions and particulars of an 

 egg so undoubtedly genuine, we informed the keepers of the 

 garden of the circumstance, and one of them entered the 

 partition to take it away. To this proceeding the bird made 

 every resistance in her power, flying furiously at the man, 

 with open beak and claws extended, hissing and snapping 

 with her bill, and spreading her wings and tail until every 

 feather was set up like the quills of a porcupine. The egg 

 thus opportunely obtained, measured two inches seven lines 

 in length, and one inch eleven lines in width : it was per- 

 fectly white, of a rough chalky appearance, and without any 

 polish. 



The Eagle Owl is one of the largest of its tribe, nearly 

 equalling the Eagle in apparent size, and exhibits in its ap- 

 pearance, when roused into action, more of the dignity of the 

 Eagle than the grotesqueness usually characteristic of the 

 Owl. To this dignity of appearance, we conclude, may be 

 attributed the name of Grand Due, bestowed upon it by 

 Buffon, Temminck and other authors. What Grand Duke 

 has had the honour of being its prototype we are not in- 

 formed. This species is chiefly an inhabitant of mountain- 

 ous countries : it is common in Norway, Lapland, and 

 Russia, is found in Germany and the mountains of Switzer- 

 land, but is rare in France, and more so in England. Ac- 

 cording to Temminck it inhabits Italy, and is even met with 

 in Rome : it is found also in the middle and north of Asia, 

 in Africa, and in North and South America. It is never 

 seen in countries that are open and level ; but the more 



