File:A history of British birds. By the Rev. F.O. Morris (1862) (14772075543).jpg

Identifier: historyofbritish01morr (find matches)
Title: A history of British birds. By the Rev. F.O. Morris ..
Year: 1862 (1860s)
Authors: Morris, F. O. (Francis Orpen), 1810-1893
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: London, Groombridge and Sons
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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of the globe. In Europe it occurs in Denmark,Russia, Sweden, Norway, France, Italy, Turkey, and Spam.In this country it is generally distributed, tbough nowherenumerous. In the fir woods, north-east of York, it is to becommonly met with. It is also a resident in Ireland andScotland. This Owl is not only a nocturnal, but occasionally, andand even in bright sunshine, a dim-nal feeder: for the mostpart, however, it keeps quiet by day. It is readily tamed,and alfords much amusement by the many grotesque attitudesit assumes, to which its ears and eyes give piquancy. It mayoften be detected with a small orifice left through which itis peeping when its eyes would seem to be shut; and it hasthe singular faculty of being able to close one eye while theother is not shut; so that it may appear to be wide awake onone side, while apparently asleep on the other, or, if asleep, maybe so literally with one eye open. The ears are raised byany excitement; at other times they are depressed. If attacked,
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LONG- !• ARED OWL. LONG-EAEED OWL. 135 it makes a vigorous defence, throwing itself on its back, strikingwith its claws, and hissing and snapping with its bill. If provokedonly, it merely makes a querulous noise. A friend of Mr.Thompsons, of Belfast, kept this and the preceding speciesinstead of cats, and found them more effective as destroyersof rats and mice. They were, he says, very fond of havingtheir ears rubbed, The food of this Owl consists of leverets, rabbits, rats, mice,moles, sparrows, snipes, chaffinches, blackbiids, linnets, gold-finches, and other small birds, which it is said to surprisewhen at roost, as also of beetles and other insects. It seizesits prey with its bill, with which it carries it if not large,but if otherwise transfers it to its foot. Meyer says that the note is described by the word hook. Nidification commences early in March. Other birds nests, such as crows, magpies, and ringdoves,are generally, if not always, fitted up by the one before usas its do

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