110 STRIGID.E. 



wool, being covered with dirty white loose down, sprinkled 

 with brown ; and it is not before the sixth week that the 

 quills show themselves through the down ; consequently the 

 young birds remain a long time in the nest : they utter a 

 continual hissing and piping noise, by which they frequently 

 betray their retreat. The parent birds supply them with 

 food in great plenty, and never wander far from their place of 

 concealment. The old birds usually return every spring to 

 the same place for incubation, and even if continually robbed 

 of their eggs or young, they will not desert a favourite spot. 



The Eagle Owl lives generally alone, except during the 

 season of pairing, when he remains with his family. His 

 flight is performed with ease and lightness, is slow, wavering, 

 and generally near the ground. In habits he is nocturnal, 

 but when disturbed from his place of retreat, even in bright 

 sunshine, he is able to see sufficiently to avoid flying against 

 branches or other objects which surround him. In confine- 

 ment he is far more alert by day than many others of 

 his tribe, and frequently feeds during daylight. His usual 

 cry is poo-hoo, accompanied, when molested, with hissing 

 and snapping of the beak. During the breeding season 

 the female utters a screeching noise, together with the 

 accustomed hoot. When at rest the appearance of this bird 

 is clumsy and shapeless, but when its attention is attracted 

 on the approach of any one, it opens to the full width its 

 large and brilliant eyes, throws its head from side to side, 

 snaps its bill, and shaking its plumage and expanding its 

 formidable claws until its passions are fully roused, finally 

 darts with fury upon the object of its anger. Its strength 

 being equal to its courage, it does not easily relinquish what 

 it has once seized. 



The Eagle Owl feeds upon all sorts of animals and 

 reptiles : among the larger animals it sometimes takes a 



