472 



British Cage Birds. 



and on this account is named by some people tlie Wood 

 Owl. It is certainly most plentiful in densely-wooded loca- 

 lities, and builds its nest in the hollows of decayed trees. 

 The nest is formed of the undigested pellets which Owls 

 emit, intermixed with hare and rabbit fur. The hen lays 

 three or four dusky white eggs, and incubates about seventeen 

 days. The young at first are covered with grey, fleecy down, 

 like young chickens ; when intended to be hand-reared, they 

 should be removed before they commence to feather, as then 

 they become much tamer. They should be kept in a dark 

 place, and be fed during the night, as well as early morning, 

 afternoon, and evening ; very few are reared by hand on 

 this account, and those that are mostly by men whose occu- 

 pations cause them to work during the night time. 



The Tawny Owl is troublesome to gamekeepers, for it 

 attacks and destroys young hares and rabbits. It likewise 

 kills and devours Larks and other birds which it finds re- 

 posing on the ground. Birds that are reared by hand, or 

 taken when very young, become much tamer than those 

 that have been accustomed to rove among the " woodlands 

 wild." 



Methods of Capture. — The Tawny Owl may be taken in 

 a spring trap, with a live bait, concealed in some secluded 

 part of a plantation which it is known to frequent. Pro- 

 fessional trappers force it from its place of concealment, when 

 it is easily secured by throwing a net over it before it re- 

 covers from its surprise, as it is quite stupid and bewildered 

 when driven suddenly into the full glare of the mid-day sun. 



Food and Treatment. — When living in its natural state, 

 the Tawny Owl feeds on rats, mice, newts, bats, young hares, 

 rabbits, and birds. In confinement, it may be fed and treated 

 in all respects the same as the White Owl {vide Chapter 

 LXXXVII.). 



Bearing the Young. — Eemove at an early age, and feed 

 at first on lean, raw flesh, of any description so lorig as it is 

 fresh, and later on with mice and small birds. When they 

 are six weeks old they will prefer the mice and birds alive. 

 They enjoy the leg of a rabbit, given raw, or a fat mole. A 

 change of diet is essential to preserve them in a healthy con- 

 dition. 



Distinguishing Marks of Cock and Hen. — The male is 



