NOTES ON THE NESTING OF THE TAWNY OWL. 297 
and ripped the umbrella cover right across. Remains of a rat 
in nest. Four large pellets put into nest the previous night 
have all been removed. 
2nd.—9 a.m.: One young one sitting outside at entrance to 
hole. Owl attacks again; in this instance I waved the 
umbrella round, endeavouring to scare her, but without success, 
and she ripped it this time across the side. 
3rd.—7 a.m.: I took a second person with me to the nest. 
The Owl was seen but did not attack. One young had left the 
nest, and was perched in apple-tree close by. 
4th.—7 p.m.: The nest empty. One young perched in tree 
near at hand. Upon an examination of the remains on the floor 
of the nest I found the leg of a Starling, several pin-feathers 
from wing of young Jay, four fractured leg-bones of rats, two 
pairs of lower jaws of voles, and few more remains of cockchafers 
and dung beetles, a few small portions of pellets, and a small 
amount of excreta. 
16th.—Both young still continue to roost in the plantation. 
Kach night at dusk they call vociferously for food. 'To-night, at 
9.15 p.m., they were crying out one on either side of the valley, 
eventually the one crossing over to the far side to join the other. 
Soon afterwards one of the parent birds hooted in reply to the cry 
from the opposite side, when both young immediately recrossed 
in answer to the call. 
22nd.—10 p.m.: At the time of closing these notes for publi- 
cation the young may still be heard uttering their monotonous 
ery for food. 
30th.—Up to this date the two young Owls, with at least 
one of the old birds, always somewhere near at hand, have 
continued to spend the daytime in the plantation next the 
orchard. 
Zool. 4th ser. vol. XVI., August, 1912. 2A 
