. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. tuj: J!Aii.\ {(1. â passerinum*), is by no means uncommon in many pai-ts of tlio Continent, tliougli it has not yi-t tifen met with for certain in the British Islands. The sub-family Si/riiiiiue contains only three genera, the Horned Owls (Asivf), tlie Wood Owls (Si/rninm^), and the Tengninlni's Owl (X'j/ctala^ tftiffinalmi), the latter having been already noticed (p. 297) as possessing the curious diffei-ence in the ear-opening on each side of the skull. Of the Hornetl Owls two species are found in the British Islands, viz., the Short-ear
. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. tuj: J!Aii.\ {(1. â passerinum*), is by no means uncommon in many pai-ts of tlio Continent, tliougli it has not yi-t tifen met with for certain in the British Islands. The sub-family Si/riiiiiue contains only three genera, the Horned Owls (Asivf), tlie Wood Owls (Si/rninm^), and the Tengninlni's Owl (X'j/ctala^ tftiffinalmi), the latter having been already noticed (p. 297) as possessing the curious diffei-ence in the ear-opening on each side of the skull. Of the Hornetl Owls two species are found in the British Islands, viz., the Short-earpivei-al others; and the same writer states that during the breeding season it becomes very impudent, and will even seize aud catch up chickens from the doors, and also chase pigeons in open daylight. Although resident in the British Islands, a large migration of the species takes place in autumn, and it Is not unfrequently shot by sportsmen in the turnip-fields; while Bewick mentions the recurrence of twenty-eight individuals being flushed in a turnip-field in November, being pi-obably attracted to the locality by an abundance of food. It may also be occasional Ir found in marshes near the sea-shore", as occurred once to the writer, who started a Short-eared Owl from the sedgy bank on the west side of Pagham Harbour, in the early part ot September. AVhen winged, it boldly faced its pursuer, erecting tiie little tufts on its head and fiercely snapping its bill, as is the manner vi-ith all Owls in defending themselves. Its relation, the Long-eared Owl, is a bird of different habits, and, instead of breeding on the ground as the foregoing species does, it selects a dark wood or clump of fii's, appro priating a deserted Squirrel's "dray," or adapting the nest of another bii-d to its own requirements. Macgillivray gives the following account of a young specimen which he had in confine- ment:â"An individual of this species, which was sent tome in ^^'^ *" ^
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjecta, booksubjectanimals
