EAGLE-0 WLS. 
167 
of the feathers; and the same colours, but arranged in transverse bars, occupy the 
primary quills and tail-feathers. On the face-disc the feathers are light brown 
with greyish black speckles; while the breast is pale brown, with longitudinal 
streaks of darker brown, and the remainder of the under-parts are shades of 
brown banded with darker bars. 
The great eagle-owl inhabits the greater part of Europe and Northern Asia, 
the Central Asian form ( B . turcomanus ) being paler than ordinary. In Asia it 
extends as far south as the Pangong Lake and the Himalaya; and it has also been 
obtained from North-Eastern Africa. Common in Scandinavia and Soutli 
Germany, this owl is rare in Denmark: and although not unfrequent in Italy, is 
unknown in Sardinia. Many of the specimens taken in England have been birds 
escaped from captivity. The eagle-owl is one of the boldest and most rapacious 
of the European birds of prey, attacking and devouring young fawns, hares, 
rabbits, other small rodents, capercaillie, grouse, pheasants, and many smaller 
birds, as well as reptiles and frogs. Mainly nocturnal, it appears early in the 
evening, and can fly well and strongly in the daylight. Its cry has been compared 
to the syllables boo, boo. When reposing during the day, the eagle-owl usually sits 
with its feathers ruffled up, and thus appears much larger than it really is. When 
irritated it spreads and drops its wings in the manner represented in our illus¬ 
tration, at the same time snapping its beak and hissing, and thus rushes with 
flaming eyes at its aggressor in the most menacing manner. Although it is said 
that when attacked by the golden eagle it will come off victorious, this owl appears 
to be quarrelsome rather than really courageous, and in the daytime will take 
wing immediately on the approach of an intruder. When detected on its perch, it 
is immediately mobbed by a host of smaller birds, generally led by a crow. The 
breeding-season commences in the latter half of March or the beginning of April; 
and the two or three eggs are usually laid on a ledge or shelf of rock with but 
little if any attempt at a nest. Occasionally, however, a large nest of twigs is 
formed, which, in the absence of suitable rocks may be placed in a tree; while 
sometimes the eggs are deposited in a hole in the ground. The young are hatched 
in about three weeks, and are able to fly in eight weeks after birth, although they 
frequently remain in the nest for some time longer. This owl breeds freely in 
captivity. 
The Virginian eagle-owl is a somewhat smaller bird, distinguished 
her Species. ^ £p e head and neck being of the same hue as the blackish back 
instead of yellowish and lighter. It ranges over the whole of North, and extends 
into Central America, and is liable to great local variation in colour. In cultivated 
districts this owl inflicts much damage on poultry yards, killing all kinds of birds, 
from turkeys down to young chickens, and frequently merely devouring the hearts 
of its numerous victims. Where the primitive forests have been destroyed, the 
owls breed in the deserted nests of eagles, hawks, or crows, but elsewhere nest in 
hollow trees. Usually there are but two or three eggs, although occasionally four 
or five; and so early in the year are these laid that in Nova Scotia and Newfound¬ 
land they are not unfrequently found frozen in the nest. The Indian eagle-owl or 
rock horned owl ( B. bengdlensis), may be taken as an example of the second group 
of the genus, in which the covering of the feathers on the toes is more or less 
