80 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Field -characters. — In north Europe hunts by day as well as by 

 night. Large size and long conspicuous ear-tufts distinguish it 

 from all other British Owls. Note a loud and deep " boo-hoo," 

 can be heard at a great distance. (N.F.T.) 



Breeding-habits. — Haunts forests, or mountain ranges. No nest, 

 but breeds sometimes on ground in side of gullies, sheltered by 

 rocks or shrubs, sometimes on ledge or in cleft of rock, in hollow 

 trees or in old nests of birds of prey in trees, and in the steppes 

 in depression on open plain. Eggs. — Usually 2-3, but 4 are occa- 

 sionally met with. It is said that clutches of 5 and 6 have been 

 found but this requires confirmation. Colour white. Average 

 size of 47 eggs, 59.95 x 49.7. Max. : 66 x 50.9 and 65 x 52.5. Min. : 

 53.2x48 and 58.3x46.3 mm. Breeding -season. — From end March 

 to end May. Incubation. — By female alone ; period 35-37 days. 

 Single brooded. 



Food. — Mammals, chiefly rabbits, hares ; also less often water-rat, 

 hamster, brown rat, moie, mice, and I have seen a weasel in a nest. 

 Also said to have killed young of roe-deer. Birds include game from 

 Capercaillie to Partridge, Crows (Carrion and Hooded), Buzzard, 

 Woodpeckers, Jays, etc., and Ducks. Also snakes, lizards, frogs 

 and large beetles. 



Distribution. — Great Britain. — Very rare vagrant. Being fre- 

 quently kept in captivity suspicion rests upon a good many recorded 

 occurrences. Specimens have been taken in Yorks., Lines., Oxom, 

 Derby, Salop, Sussex, Hants., Wilts., Shetlands, Orkneys, and 

 Argyll., and a good many others recorded as seen. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Europe from Scandinavia and north 

 Russia to Pyrenees and Italy. Replaced by more or less different 

 races in Spain and Algeria, south-east Europe, Asia Minor, Turkestan, 

 Siberia and other parts of Asia to Amur, China, Corea. 



Genus ASIO Briss. 



Asio Brisson, Ornith., I, p. 28 (1760 — Type by tautonymy, according 



to page 477, asio of ancient authors, i.e. Asio otus). 



Middle-sized Owls with long and conspicuous or ill-developed 

 and hardly visible ear -tufts. Ear-openings enormous, occupjdng 

 whole side of head, anterior operculum as well as transverse fold 

 strongly developed, ears asymmetrical. Wings comparatively 

 very long, reaching to end of tail or beyond, 2nd and 3rd primaries 

 usually longest in British species, otherwise 1st, 1st and 2nd, or 

 2nd to 4th. Only 1st or 1st and 2nd emarginated (sinuated or 

 notched) on inner webs. Toes feathered, though not very thickly, 

 at least in European species. About Jo species in all parts of 

 World, but absent from Australia, New Zealand and most South 

 Sea Islands, except Hawaiian group. 



