174 



THE YOUNG 



NATURALIST. 



Plumage. — The following is a descrip- 

 tion of my own pair : — 



Male. — Bill pale horn colour. The eyes 

 are dark brown. Face grey, with long 

 black bristles on each side of the bill, and 

 shading off to reddish beyond the eyes. 

 Frill of feathers white, tipped with reddish 

 and brown. Head and back reddish, or 

 yellowish tan colour shaded with brown. 

 Greater and lesser wing coverts white on 

 the outer half of the web. Primaries yel- 

 lowish white, barred with brown. Tail 

 yellowish white, barred with brown. Under 

 parts white, each feather with a dark brown 

 mark down the centre and a ferruginous 

 band across the end. Legs white, faintly 

 spotted with brown. 



The Female has scarcely any ferrugi- 

 nous, the markings being darker and more 

 distinct, especially on the under parts. Mr. 

 Bond says these differences of colour are 

 not due to sex, and that the rufous variety 

 similar to my male is the more common of 

 the two. 



Immature birds are scarcely distinguish- 

 able from the adults. 



The Young is at first covered with 

 brownish grey down, 



A Variety is recorded (Zool., p. 241 1) 

 with the parts light ash grey which are 

 usually brown. A supposed case of melan- 

 ism is reported (Ibis, 1876, p. 63) by Messrs. 

 Sclater and Taylor. It was shot near Con- 

 stantinople. 



Note. — This owl is the veritable hooter 

 and excels all the other species in that 

 accomplished act. I have frequently listen- 

 ed to their concerts in Sherwood forest and 

 other places, and it is interesting to note 

 the different pitched voices which the various 

 individuals possess. Gilbert White noticed 

 this. He says "A neighbour of mine, who 

 is said to have a nice ear, remarks that the 

 owls about this village hoot in three different 

 keys, in G flat or F sharp, in B flat, and in 



A flat." The note is a wild and dismal 

 "hoo, hoo, hoo," which is rendered still 

 more melancholy by the stillness of the night. 

 Owls seem to have a particular liking for 

 dismal cries. Wolley, when in Lapland, 

 had several owls brought round him at night 

 by the barking of his dogs. He then tried 

 some unearthly noises himself and was 

 successful in bringing more. His attendant 

 said that if anybody heard him they would 

 think it was the "djefoul." 



Flight.— This is not so buoyant and 

 graceful on the wing as the last-named 

 species, but being purely a bird of the night 

 it is oftener heard than seen. 



Migration.— Does not migrate in this 

 country. 



Food. — The Tawny Owl preys princi- 

 pally upon the smaller mammals — rats, 

 mice, moles, young hares and rabbits. It 

 will also sometimes eat birds, insects, worms, 

 and even fish. 



In confinement they soon become tame 

 if fed by hand, especially if taken from the 

 nest while young. 



Habitat. — This owl inhabits most parts 

 of England and Scotland, but is rare in 

 Ireland, It frequents wooded districts, 

 especially v.^here there are large hollow or 

 ivy-covered trees, in which it resorts during 

 the day. 



Abroad it is known all over Europe, in 

 parts of Asia and north Africa. 



Nest. — The nest is placed in an old 

 tree, and composed of chips of rotton wood, 

 or sometimes in the old nest of a crow or 

 magpie, which undergoes very little repair. 

 Mr. Wharton records (Ibis, vol. ii., N.S., 

 p. 324) a nest he found in Wales upon the 

 ground. Mr, Bond says he has also heard 

 of its breeding in rabbit burrows. 



Eggs. — The eggs are laid in March, to 

 the number of from three to five, and are 

 white like the others of this genus. 



