TAWNY OWL. 131 



facility, and sometimes sits with the beak resting on the back, 

 its large eyes winking slowly. When this bird takes flight 

 it flies slowly and heavily, beating the air lazily with its blunt 

 and arched wings ; in the dark, or at moonlight it is a little 

 quicker in its movements. This Owl hoots, and has fright- 

 ened the superstitious of many nations with its call. 



The Tawny Owl feeds chiefly on mice of all descriptions, 

 and also on moles, frogs, beetles, and other large insects; 

 young hares and rabbits are occasionally taken by it ; small 

 birds which it can surprise at rest it eagerly consumes : all 

 these it seeks by twilight or during moonlight nights, for 

 which purpose its entirely noiseless flight is of great service. 



Early in the spring these birds begin their pairing call 

 (which sounds like a satirical laugh) and commence their 

 preparations for breeding, for which purpose they choose a 

 hole in a tree, in which they collect moss and feathers ; but 

 these materials are scarcely sufficiently arranged to bear the 

 designation of a nest. The female deposits from three to 

 five eggs, and the young are hatched in about three weeks ; 

 they are blind for some days, and their red eyelids have 

 the appearance of being inflamed, particularly in contrast 

 with the grey coloured down with which they are clothed. 

 The appearance of these birds while nestlings, and before 

 the growth of the feathers, is very extraordinary ; the whole 

 bird is covered with pale grey woolly down, and resembles 

 nothing so much as a pair of Shetland worsted stockings, 

 rolled up, such as might have belonged to Tarn O'Shanter ; 

 and, except when the bright round eyes are opened, it is 

 impossible to suppose the object to belong to the animate 

 creation. 



This Owl soon becomes tame in confinement ; one which 

 we reared from the nest quite domesticated itself in the family. 

 It inhabited un out-building in which various household 

 affairs were transacted by the servants, to one of whom it 

 was evidently attached ; and as the building was much covered 

 with ivy, which obscured the light, it would sit in the day- 



