WHITE OR BARN OWL. 
255 
resort for the Areicolce, and a newly mown field 
of hay we have seen very carefully examined. 
The prey is dropt suddenly down upon without 
any apparent effort ; at times a stop in the steady 
flight is suddenly made, the bird rises slightly in 
the air, and immediately makes the stroke or 
pounce. Sometimes a considerable time is spent 
on the spot where the prey is seized, as if it was 
immediately torn and fed upon; but it is more 
generally carried off at once to be consumed at 
more leisure, and this is always done at the season 
of incubation for the support of the young. Ex- 
cursions are often made to a much greater distance, 
and with considerable regularity; we have fre- 
quently met the White Owl a mile from his cover, 
and the Irish birds seem to stray even farther. 
Mr Thompson says, “ I have the following evidence 
of its regular flight to some distance from its 
domicile, just as twilight commences. Near Bel- 
fast, there is a considerable extent of low lying 
meadows, which are flooded by heavy rains, and 
at such times are resorted to by various species of 
wild fowl ( Anatidw .) The flood never attaining 
such a height as to cover the banks surrounding 
these meadows, they are frequented by persons 
for the purpose of shooting wild fowl on their 
evening flight, and to whom the owl, on as ‘ mur- 
derous deeds intent,’ occasionally falls a victim.” * 
This species, and its congeners, have gained a 
* Magazine of Zool. and Dot. ii. p. 178. 
