134 
was not watched ; as food was found to have 
been deposited for the young before the coop 
one night when this had been the ease. 
* In the moMh of August the parent dis- 
continued this attendance ; but at that period 
all birds of prey abandon their young to thek 
own exertions." 
From this instance it may be readily con- 
cluded how great a quantity of game must be 
destroyed by a pair of these Owls during the 
time they employ in rearing their young. And 
as the edible species of forest animals repair 
chiefly in the evening to the fields, they are 
particularly exposed to the acute sight, smell, 
and claws of these birds ©f the night. 
The appearance of this bird in cities has 
been deemed an unlucky omen. The an- 
cients held them in the utmost abhorrence, 
and thought them (like the Screech Owls) 
the messengers of death. 
This species of Owl is rarely met with in 
England. It has, however, been shot in 
Yorkshire and in Sussex, as well as in Scot- 
land. It is not very common in France, nor 
is it certain that it stays there the whole yean 
