186 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH INLAND BIRDS 
in some way, better to localise sounds ; and we 
may perhaps infer that the feathery tufts are a still 
more perfect piece of mechanism which have only 
been developed in the " eared " species, just as the 
difference in the true ear-cavities has been granted 
to it and to the Tawny Owl, but not to the Barn 
Owl. Whatever may be the explanation, such are 
the curious facts. By day the Long-eared Owl 
clings to the depths of his fir- woods, sitting motion- 
less on a branch high up, and easily escaping notice, 
especially as he is a bird of very silent habits. Oc- 
casionally, however, he may utter a short snapping 
or spitting noise, which betrays his presence to any 
one who is acquainted with him. He feeds by 
night on mice, young rats, small birds, and beetles. 
Nesting begins in March, or sometimes even in 
February ; the four to six rounded white eggs, 
about the size of the Barn OwFs, being laid in an 
old nest of the Wood Pigeon, Crow or Magpie, or 
even on the flattened top of an ancient squirrel's 
drey. They may generally be distinguished from 
the Barn Owl's by being very smooth and ivory- 
like in surface, whereas the Barn OwFs are dark 
and rough. This Owl's plumage is of much the 
same mottled brown and grey as the Tawny Owl's ; 
but it has more of a pale greyish tint than most 
Tawny Owls', and the breast is covered more 
closely with dark streaks. 
