Identifier: royalnaturalhist47lyde (find matches)
Title: The royal natural history
Year: 1893 (1890s)
Authors: Lydekker, Richard, 1849-1915 Sclater, Philip Lutley, 1829-1913 Frostick, W. B., former owner. DSI Brooks, W. T., former owner. DSI
Subjects: Zoology Natural history
Publisher: London and New York : Frederick Warne & Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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above, marked with five transverse grey bands; and thewhole of the under-parts are white. From this normal coloration there is everyintermediate stage to one where the eye-discs are rusty red, the under-parts tawny,and the back darker than usual; while in other cases the discs may be grey, andthe whole plumage tending more or less to this tinge. In other instances, however, BARN-0 WLS. 143 grey may exist only on the discs, while both the upper and under-parts are ofvarious shades of tawny and yellowish brown. Mr. Dresser remarks that theAmerican form is slightly larger and darker, and the Indian variety both darkerand of a clearer grey above than the ordinary type. In Britain the barn-owl is generally distributed, and residentthroughout the year, although it becomes less numerous in Scotland,and as far north as Ross and Caithness but seldom nests. Strictlv nocturnal in its Habits. -. __ ^^ - J-\ ■ : .> CT, — - — — — — 3 ^^^^ ^ ^ -^^5 —; ^^-^v^ ■— —^ ■ 1 Y L^^^
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BAKN-0\Vr.S (^5 iiat habits, this owl spends the day in the recesses of buildings, or in hollow trees,generally standing with closed eyes. Like other owls, it associates in pairs, andsuch pairs, if undisturbed, will return year after year to the same nesting-place.In hunting, the barn-owl quarters its ground with the regularity of a spaniel, andits food consists chiefly of voles. Its usual cry is a kind of scream, but the youngutter a snorting sound. In Europe this owl is a late breeder, usually commencingto lay from the middle to the end of April, but sometimes not till May. Thenumber of eggs in a nest generally ranges from three to six. althougli seven have 144 OJFZS. been taken. In California the nesting may be as early as January, and there, asin other parts of America, the nest may be made in some hole in a bank, which isenlarged to suit the requirements of its tenants. Writing of the habits of tlieAmerican barn-owl (which he regards as a distinct species). Captain Bendireobserve

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