48o 



British Cage Birds. 



oblong markings on the first nanaed. The legs are feathered 

 profusely down to the claws, the latter being very sharp, and 

 black in colour. 



Habits and Breeding. — The Long-eared Owl, more fre- 

 quently designated the Horned Owl, or Horn Owl, is common 

 to England and Ireland, and also found in various parts of 

 Europe. It rejoices in dense, lonely woods and forests, in 

 deep ravines, and wild, precipitous, craggy country, such as 

 may be found in Derbyshire, Northumberland, Cumberland, 

 and Yorkshire, and more particularly in those parts where 

 the ivy climbs and twines its vast spreading branches with- 

 out molestation. All Owls appear partial to places clothed 

 with this verdant garb of Nature, and their haunts may 

 frequently be discovered by the profusion of this " rare old 

 plant " in any particular wood or locality which they are 

 accustomed to visit. In such places as these the Long- 

 eared Owl dwells, and brings forth its young. This variety 

 is considered to be the most mischievous and vicious of all 

 the family of Owls, saving and excepting its great prototype, 

 the Eagle Owl, and is a source of vexation and annoyance, 

 not only to the feathered inhabitants of the woods and plains, 

 bat to game preservers, on account of its destructive instincts. 



The Long-eared Owl builds its nest in trees, similar to 

 a Cushat, but more often takes possession of the deserted 

 nest of a Magpie, Crow, or other large bird, or that of a 

 squirrel. It hawks occasionally in the daytime as well as 

 during the night, but usually on dull, dark days, and rarely 

 leaves the woods excepting at night time, being really nocturnal 

 in its habits. The hen lays from two to three white eggs, 

 and incubates about seventeen days. The young at first are 

 covered with fleecy down, but commence to feather when 

 about eight days old, and are tolerably well covered at the 

 age of fourteen or fifteen days. 



Methods of Capture. — The Long-eared Owl may be caught 

 in the winter time by the use of spring traps, baited with a 

 live bird, or it may be taken with the Hawk trap. 



Food and Treatment. — Follow treatment recommended for 

 the Little Owl " (see Chapter LXXXIX., p. 477). 



Bearing the Young. — The same treatment must be followed 

 as that recommended for the " White Owl " (see Chapter 

 LXXXVIL, p. 469). 



