OWL. 301 



This noble species is not nncommon in various parts of Europe, 

 chiefly on the Continent, but has several times been met with in 

 this kingdom, certainly in Scotland, as well as in Yorkshire, Sussex* 

 and Kent; other places have been mentioned to me, though not so 

 well ascertained, nor have we learned whether it has yet bred here ; 

 said to be not uncommon in the Orknies ;* it, for the most part* 

 inhabits ruined edifices, mountainous and cavernous places, or in- 

 accessible rocks ; rarely seen on plains, or on trees ; preys chiefly on 

 leverets, i-abbits, moles, rats, and mice, sometimes on reptiles ; swal- 

 lowing the larger, by morsels, with the bones, and hair;, the lesser ones 

 whole ; and, after digesting the nutritious parts, emits the indiges- 

 tible ones, in the shape of round pellets, which are often found in 

 quantity near its haunts. This circumstance we believe to be com- 

 mon to all the genus. Is supposed to see better in the day than any 

 other owl, as it is frequently observed j^reying on its game in full 

 day-light. Aldrovandus says, it provides so plentifully for its young, 

 that a person living near the nest of one of them, may be supplied 

 with some dainties, and yet leave enough to satisfy the young birds. 



It is found in France, but less common there than in other 

 places on the Continent, nor is it certain that it stays there through 

 the year. The female lays two eggs, which are about the size of those 

 of an hen, and white. Is found on the north summit of the rock of 

 Gibraltar, but we are not told whether it is there a constant inha- 

 bitant ; met with also in Germany, and indeed various places on 

 the old Continent, extending even to the Arctic regions ; is common 

 also at Kamtschatka, likewise at Astrachan to the south ; and men- 

 tioned, among others, as frequenting Aleppo. M. Levaillant met 

 with it in Africa ; and, as we shall see below, it seems to be a spe- 

 cies universally spread over both the old and new Continent, if we 

 take in all varieties. 



* NeilVs Tour in Orhney, 195. Hist. Orhney, 312. Called Stock-Owl and Kat-Ugl. 

 According to Horrebow, there are no owls in Iceland, 





