File:Britain's birds and their nests (1910) (14568728518).jpg

Identifier: britainsbirdsthe00thom (find matches)
Title: Britain's birds and their nests
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Thomson, Arthur Landsborough, Sir, 1890- Thomson, J. Arthur (John Arthur), 1861-1933 Rankin, George
Subjects: Birds -- Great Britain Birds -- Nests
Publisher: London : W. & R. Chambers
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
irds which is commonin Great Britain, but is, for some reason, entirely unknownin Ireland. In the larger island it is abundant and wide-spread, and in some parts of Scotland it is the commonestOwl. It will be noticed that both the Barn and TawnyOwls are common in England and Wales, while the onehas solitary tenm-e of Ireland and the other almost thesame of Scotland. The next species, however, the Long-eared Owl, is evenly distributed over the British Isles. In nesting habits the Tawny Owl closely resembles theBarn-Owl, except that it is generally arboreal. Whenthe nest is in a tree, the site is frequently the interiorof a decayed trunk, but often the old nest of some otherbird is utilised. Rooks nests in the middle of frequentedcolonies have been known to be used in this way. Itis not uncommon, however, to find the eggs laid in amore or less sheltered situation on some rocky crag, oreven on the bare ground. Laying takes place veryearly, sometimes before the end of February. The three,
Text Appearing After Image:
Plate 62. LONG-EARED OWL—Asw oius. Length, 14 in. ; wing, 11-5 in. (StriGES : StrigidiE.)z 200 BRITAINS BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 201 four, or more eggs are white in colour and roundish inshape, as is usual in the Order. The young also are ofthe usual type. When its nest is in danger the TawnyOwl often displays considerable boldness. THE LONQ=EARED OWL (Asio otus).Plate 62. As already mentioned, the Long-eared Owl is foundthroughout the British Isles in suitable localities—even inthe Orkneys as a nester, and in the Shetlands as amigrant. It is an arboreal species, and is a commonresident in most wooded districts. Over much of Scot-land it is certainly the most numerously represented Owl,and has, all things considered, some claim to be consideredthe commonest British Owl, although outnumbered byone or other of the preceding species in many districts. Nevertheless, it is by no means a familiar bird, and isoften considered very much less common than it really is.This is chiefly owing to

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