136 
BIRDS OF PREY. 
thickest forests. It is a nocturnal kind, lodging con- 
stantly in hollow trees, and commencing its rambles about 
dusk. It flies lightly and sideways like most of the genus, 
is a keen mouser, and may be decoyed within gun-shot by 
imitating the squeak of that animal. It is however ob- 
served to be rather dainty, seldom eating more than the 
fore-quarters of its prey, and leaving the rest in its nest 
untouched. It is said now and then to burrow like a 
rabbit, probably after its prey when heard or seen, in 
which particular it seems to follow, in a measure, the 
habit of the S. cunicularia , or Burrowing Owl, already 
mentioned. Like the Long-Eared species, it takes but 
little trouble about a nest, constantly occupying those of 
other large birds which have become neglected, such as 
that of the Buzzard, Kestril, Crow, or Magpie. Its eggs, 
4 or 5 in number, are whitish, and round as usual. 
Although, during summer, it lodges constantly in the 
hollow trees of the forest, in winter it occasionally 
ventures to approach habitations and farm-yards, assisting 
the cat in ridding the premises of rats and mice. It 
also pursues and catches small birds, or picks them off 
their roost, and devours frogs and beetles. Early in the 
morning during summer, it retires into the woods, and 
conceals itself in the thickest copse, or sleeps away the 
day, hidden amidst the foliage of the most shady trees. 
Its dismal cry, hob, do, dd, dd, 66, do, do, resembling the 
howling of the wolf ( ululare ), originated its name of ulula 
among the Romans. The cry of the young bird, or Tawny 
Owl, is like a shouting or hallooing Mho, hoho , MhoMM, 
which, however unpleasant, has the curious effect of draw- 
ing great numbers of small birds around him, at 
which times, it is probable, he repays their insolent curi- 
osity by seizing and feeding on the plumpest of them. 
