LONG-EARED OWL. 
281 
depressed ; lie is aware of being pursued, and a 
second flight is taken before a very near approach 
can be gained. This Owl generally makes use of 
the deserted nest of the carrion crow for its breed- 
ing-place, but we have seen it placed about half 
way up the tree, close to the trunk, in a situation 
where it was not likely there would be a previous 
nest. In this instance, the fabric was quite loose, 
and almost without any lining ; and we think, 
from the appearance of many nests we have exa- 
mined, that some assistance or repair is given to 
the old structure by the addition of some fresh 
sticks before incubation is again commenced. 
Dr Richardson says, that in Arctic America “ it 
lays three or four roundish white eggs, sometimes 
on the ground, at other times in the deserted nests 
of other birds in low bushes.” Four pure white 
eggs, of a form considerably oval, are generally 
laid, sometimes as early as the middle of March. 
Food is most amply supplied to the young, and 
consists principally of mice and arvicoke, occa- 
sionally small birds.* 
The Long-eared Owl is generally distributed 
over Britain, wherever there is abundance of wood 
and cover In the South of Scotland, it is cer- 
tainly the most common next to the White Owl ; 
* “ It preys chiefly on quadrupeds of the genus arvicola, 
and in summer destroys many beetles.” North. Zool. ii. 
P-72. 
