356 OWL. 



supply them with food, and under whose protection they live, their 

 chief food being mice ; yet they will often destroy young birds. 

 Mr. White, of Selborne, mentions a pair, which infested a dove 

 house, and made great havoc among the young pigeons.* These 

 birds are not easily raised from the nest, as they require a constant 

 supply of fresh mice, whereas the Krown Owls will eat, indis- 

 criminately, any kind of carrion or offal that is brought to them.t 

 It breeds in hollow trees, near farm houses, and frequently in barns, 

 or under the eaves of a church, or other old building, and lays 

 at most four white eggs, placed on any woolly or downy matter, but 

 in a very slovenly manner. This species does not hoot, but has a 

 disagreeable snorting kind of hiss, and at times snaps with the bill, 

 so as to be heard at some distance. 



Is common in India — called at Bengal, Kale. I also observe 

 an Owl, apparently of the same general markings, but more dusky, 

 and much superior in size, as may be seen in the next described. 



The White Owl is common both in North and South America, 

 though not found so far North as some others. I have received a 

 specimen from Jamaica. 



Inhabits Astrachau, and we have also seen it painted among 

 other birds from China ; is a native of various parts of India, and 

 far from uncommon ; at Hindustan it is known by the name of Uloo, 

 and in the Persian language Boom ; in the province of Oude it is 

 named Rouch tuck. According to M. Levaillant, this bird is very 

 common at the Cape of Good Hope, but is there constrained to 

 make the nest among the rocks, in defect of barns, and other old 

 buildings, laying in the hollows seven or eight white eggs, the nest 

 composed of a few twigs and dried leaves ; the natives call it 

 Doodvogel (bird of death), and tlie other kinds of Owls Uylers, by 

 which name they call all night birds. 



* Hist. Selb. p. 81. — Said to be fond of oil, and will drink it greedily, being known to 

 do so in churches in France and^Italy, particularly when candied, and grown of a thick con- 

 sistence, t J<^- p. 31. 



