142 
THE LADIES’ MAGAZINE OF GARDENING. 
locally distributed, tliere being many parts of Britain where it is never 
either seen or known. 
The birds of prey are very different in their manners and in their 
choice of food. Some live entirely on fish, and breed on the rocks over¬ 
hanging the sea. Others reside in mountainous wilds, and feed on hares 
or any other animal they can master. Some emigrate to distant countries 
at certain seasons, and return at others. Some nestle on trees, others on 
the ground among heath or other low shrubs. Throughout the whole 
family the females are larger, and in several instances more beautiful, 
than the males. The young and mature birds very often differ much in 
colour; and this, with the circumstance of the females being larger than 
the males, has caused discrepancies in the descriptions of authors. 
Next to the birds of prey rank the curious family of owls; and as far 
as the title of plunder is one of distinction, the owls should partake of it, as 
they are, in their quiet way, fully as predacious as the eagles. They are 
all night-birds, and on this account their power of vision is stronger in 
twilight than in broad day. The Strix otus is the long-eared owl, met 
with only in mountainous countries, breeding in the cliffs of the rocks. 
The short-eared or horned owl—the horns consisting of a single feather— 
is only a seasonal visitant, and then never plentiful. The White Owl, 
S.JZammea , lodges in ivy-covered trees, in barns, or other out-buildings 
about farm-houses. It also inhabits church-towers and ruins, and there 
its screams are considered ominous. The S. ulula is the common 
hooting brown owl, and in manners, though not in voice, very similar to 
the foregoing. Some have asserted that they sometimes pair together; 
but this requires confirmation. These birds, however harmless and useful 
to the farmer, are a persecuted race. Their cries frighten children ; and 
they are not very kindly regarded by the nurses or parents, especially 
if heard near the nursery windows ! W e never heard the owls accused 
of any mischievous action, save only their penchant now and then for a 
bit of fish—especially gold-fish kept in pools or basins in gardens. It has 
been affirmed that the owl watches the movements of the fish, and if any 
one approaches near his station he suddenly clutches it out of the water 
with his foot. The owl is often compared in his mousing propensities 
and contour of his head with the cat. The comparison may be carried a 
little farther, perhaps, by saying that they both are fond of fish, though 
neither are naturally fitted to be fishers. Bating this (and which after 
all may be only a malicious slander), we know not a more harmless nor 
more useful creature. All night long the owls are hunting in the barn, or 
along under the hedges of the fields, devouring every mouse they can find ; 
and when they have young, they destroy immense numbers of these corn- 
