STRIX FLAM MEA, Zan.
Barn-Owl.

Stria flammea, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom, i. De 33.
— guttata, Brehm, Vog, Deutschl., tom. i. 1D. HOO, ttealo, 77, fies, SP
Aluco flammeus, Flem. Hist. of Brit. Anim., p. 57.

 

Tus Owls form a large group of birds, of which some are strictly nocturnal, while others seek their prey

in the daytime; a few feed exclusively on insects, others on small animals of various kinds. As may be
naturally supposed, many generic terms have been proposed for the various forms which occur in this
extensive family; the old Linnean name of Strix, however, is retained for the Barn-Owl and its immediate
allies. It is the members of this genus that are most universally dispersed over the globe, there being no
continent, and scarcely any large island, in which it has not a representative. Some of the species are
exceedingly well-defined, while others assimilate to such a degree that it becomes extremely difficult to point
out their distinguishing characteristics. The range of the Strix flammea is generally considered to be a very
wide one ; and although the bird does not go to Australia, where several other species of the same form are
found, it certainly extends over all the temperate portions of Europe, and many parts of Africa, and Mr. Gurney
is of opinion that it is also found in Madagascar. The American bird, formerly considered identical, has
lately been separated, and received a distinct specific appellation, on, I fear, very slender grounds. In India it
has not yet been detected, but, asin America, is there represented by a very nearly allied species. On the con-
tinent of Europe as in the British Islands, over every part of which the Barn-Owl is spread, barns, towers,
churches, hollow trees, and rocks are its habitual places of abode; there, generally in pairs, it snoringly
sleeps through the day; on the approach of evening its slumbers terminate, and it sallies forth and wings its
way noiselessly in search of food over the parson’s glebe, around the park of the nobleman, the grass-field of
the farmer, and the open heath, all of which constitute good hunting-grounds ; wherever mice are plentiful
and insects abundant, there this nocturnal bird may be seen, and its ‘ ill-omened” screech heard.

The enactment which passed through the Houses of Legislature in May 1869, for the protection of our
beautiful rock-birds is considered by most persons a laudable one; but ought we to stop here? should
the feathered creatures of the ocean solely claim this attention ? should not a like protection be accorded to
some of our equally interesting land-birds, and, among them, to the Barn-Owl? I fear that few game
keepers are real lovers of nature, or take an interest in the beautiful ; if they were, they would never injure
this highly curious species ; for the commonest observation would inform them that it is only during two
or three weeks in the spring that it can possibly do harm to the young game, that even then little
is effected, and that the remainder of the year is spent in the destruction of insects, reptiles, mice,
moles, &c. The short-tailed field-mouse, so destructive to the young trees of our plantations, it often
devours by thousands—a fact with which every owner of land ought to be acquainted. The late Mr. Waterton
has shown most clearly the enormous number of our small quadrupeds a pair of Barn-Owls will destroy
in the course of sixteen months; and many other authors testify to the value of the bird’s services in
keeping in check the inordinate increase of these mischievous little seal The Barn-Owl ke in ae
one of the birds whose protection would not only be highly beneficial to us in an economic ane
view, but would add much to our pleasure, since we should then doubtless more frequently meet with
it during our evening rambles in the districts it frequents. Ri

“The Barn-Owl,” says Macgillivray, ‘chooses for his place of EDO some 0 sea a 8
building, the steeple of a church, a tower, a dovecot, or a hollow tree. a pe reat rom sunrise to
sunset, in a nearly erect posture, with retracted neck and closed eyelids, dozing a eo ee :,
: ‘ is eves is unable to perceive his prey, and waiting for the return of twilig It
from the structure of his eyes, he is une | - hits fosthera’ Dieses, I(le-an arin, deed iain
nstead of flying off, he raises his feathers, hisses like an angry a :
by any accident be driven abroad, be seems dazzled and bewil-
ae he flits about with an unsteady flight, and

nook in an old

hours in which,

approached in this state, 1
and thus threatens the intruder. Should he
dered. Incapable of distinctly perceiving the objects around him, nets
is glad to betake himself to some dark retreat where he may be she ae oe ie ct ae
his numerous enemies. The appearance of an Owl in open day is 2 P lenomeng ‘a : ) ’ J ee oa
s of birds, even the smallest of which will gather AaPOUnK , chide and ba :
bills and wings. The Blue Tit, being

and the Chaftinch, gentle

ight as well as from

as well as hatred of many specie . ee
j i attack / er
i hi areer W ssitate to attack him with
him, while the larger will not hesita ‘ Len,
among the boldest of our little birds, takes a prominent pi ae see mee
c ; , otimes ; ‘| reposes > ‘
as it is. distineuishes itself by its vociferous animosity. Sometimes this y | a
: a : ae ; Id it be discovered in the latter situation by any o
i - ey a thicket; and should it be di
tree in a dense wood, or even 1 a ;