556 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



may be easily tamed, and is sometimes kept for the purpose of 

 destroying vermin. 



The first of the next group, which have a complete facial disc 

 and short tarsi feathered down to the claws, is the Brown or Tawny 

 Owl (Surnium allied). It is commonly called the Wood Owl. Its 

 cry, hoo-oo-oo ! which resembles the howling of a wolf, caused the 

 Romans to call it Ulula, from ululare, to howl. 



The Tawny Owl has a large head, and is about fourteen inches in 

 height. It inhabits the woods during the summer, where it conceals 

 itself in the thickest bushes or the old trunks of trees. It remains 

 hidden all day, only going out in the morning and evening to hunt 

 small birds and field mice, its favourite prey. In the winter it 

 approaches human habitations, and even ventures into barns to catch 

 rats and mice; but it retires to its hiding-place as soon as day 

 begins to dawn. 



At the beginning of autumn, the education of its young ones 

 being completed, this bird takes up its abode in swamps, where it 

 can catch frogs and reptiles, to which it is very partial. During 

 that season woodcock shooters often flush them. 



Like many individuals of the same family, the Barn Owl will lay 

 its eggs in strange nests, such as those of Ravens, Magpies, and 

 Buzzards. The young ones are very voracious. Before they are 

 strong enough to stand upon their feet they will support themselves 

 on their stomachs, and, holding their prey in their claws, tear it to 

 pieces with their bills ; when they become stronger, they stand on 

 one leg, and use the other to convey food to their mouths. A proof 

 of the determined courage of these birds is given in the Field, 

 wherein a pair attacked a cat that had approached their nest, and 

 ultimately destroyed the intruder. 



This owl is easily tamed, when it learns perfectly to know its 

 master, and will call to him for food by uttering low cries. It is 

 found scattered all over Europe, and frequently in Scotland. 



The Barn Owl, also known by the name of White or Screech Owl 

 (Strix flammea, Fig. 257), is found over a great portion of Europe, 

 but in France it is rare. There are several varieties of this bird ; 

 the one best known in England has the following characteristics : — 

 Its plumage is agreeably variegated with yellow, white, grey, and 

 brown, and is more pleasing than that of any of the other noctur- 

 nals. The eggs, which are elliptical, are generally five in number, 

 sometimes six or seven, and are deposited in holes in walls, deserted 

 buildings, or hollows in rocks and old trees ; but the bird does not 

 take the trouble to line these places with grass or leaves. It is but 



