The first of this group is the Tawny Owl, or Howlet, commonly called the Wood Owl. One of its names is derived from its cry, hoo-oo-oo! which resembles the howling of a wolf, and caused the Romans to call it Ulula, from ululare, to howl.
The Tawny Owl has a large head, and is about fourteen inches in height. It inhabits the woods during the summer, and conceals itself in the thickest bushes or the old trunks of trees. It remains hidden all day, only going out in the morning and evening to hunt small birds and field-mice, its favourite prey. In the winter it approaches human habitations, and even ventures into barns to catch rats and mice; but it retires to its hiding-place as soon as day begins to dawn.
At the beginning of autumn, the education of its young ones being completed, this bird takes up its abode in damp places, where it can catch frogs and reptiles, to which it is very partial. During that season Woodcock shooters often flush them.
Like many individuals of the same family, the Barn Owl will lay its eggs in strange nests, such as those of Ravens, Magpies, and Buzzards, or even in a dovecot. The young ones are very voracious. Before they are strong enough to stand upon their feet they will support themselves on their stomachs, and, holding their prey in their claws, tear it to pieces with their bills; when they become stronger, they stand on one leg, and use the other to convey food to their mouths.
This Owl has a gentle disposition, and is easily tamed; it knows its master perfectly well, and calls to him for food by uttering low cries. It is found scattered all over Europe, and frequently in Scotland.
As stormy weather has a great effect on animals' calling, and this dark variety is more frequently found in northern and stormy regions than the lighter-coloured, many authorities erroneously consider the Screech and Barn Owls different birds.
The Common Barn Owl is found over a great portion of Europe, but in France it is rare. There are several varieties of this bird; the one best known in England has the following characteristics:—Its plumage is agreeably variegated with yellow, white, grey, and brown, and is more pleasing than that of any of the other Nocturnals. The eggs, which are elliptical, are generally five in number, sometimes six or seven, and are deposited in holes in walls, or hollow places in rocks and old trees; but the bird does not take the trouble to line these holes with grass or leaves. It is but seldom it takes possession of the nests of other birds, although stories are told of its driving away the Martins from their retreats, and installing itself therein, having first considerately devoured the young.
Fig. 277.—Barn Owl (Strix flammea, Yarrell).
Children, women, and even men who are silly enough to believe in ghosts and sorcerers, look upon the Barn Owl as a bird of ill omen, and as a messenger of death. All these prejudices are really very foolish, for few birds are of more service. They destroy a vast quantity of vermin which are injurious to agriculture, and therefore have a good claim to protection. When the Owl has young ones to feed, rats and mice are exterminated without either truce or mercy. As rapidly as they can be caught they are carried to the nest; and each of the pellets of bone and hair which are thrown up from its stomach is composed of at least six or seven skeletons. Dr. Franklin collected, in the space of sixteen months, a whole bushel measure of these pellets, all proceeding from a couple of Barn Owls.