BUBO, a genus of Birds belonging to the family Strigida', separated by Cuvier, and characterised by a small concha, or ear aperture, and a facial disk, less perfect than in the sub-genus Syrnium (Chats-Huans of the French). Two tufts or feathered horns of considerable size adorn the head, and the legs are feathered down to the toot B. maximus, the Great Owl or Eagle-Owl ; Strix Bubo of Linnaeus; Le Hibou Grand Due of the French ; Gufo, Gufo Grande, and Gufo Reale of the Italians; Ubu, Grosse Ohreu]e of the Germans ; Uff of the 'Fauna Suedes;' Buhu of the Lower Austrians.
This, the largest of the nocturnal birds, is, there can he little doubt, the Bear of Aristotle (` Hist. Anim.' viii. c. 3), and the Bubo funebris mentioned by Pliny in his chapter 'De Inauspicatis Avibus ' (lib. x. c. 12 and 13), on account of whose advent Rome twice underwent Instration. Upon one of these occasions the bird of ill omen penetrated into the very cella of the Capitol.
Temmiuck says that it inhabits groat forests, and that it is very common in Hungary, Russia, Germany, and Switzerland, less common in Franca and England, and never seen in HoRend. He adds, that it is found at the Cape of Good Hope. Willughby observes that about Bologna, and elsewhere in Italy, it ia frequent. Bmaparte notes it as rare in the neighbourhood of Rome, and says that it is only seen in mountainous situations. It is said to extend eastward as far as Kanstehatka.
Pennant states that it has been shot in Scotland, and in Yorkshire, from which county it was sent to Willughby. Latham adds Kent and Sussex as localities where it has been found. It is said to have been seen in the Orkneys; and four are stated to have occurred on the northern coast of Donegal in Ireland. The Eagle-Owl then can be only considered as a rare visitant to our islands.
The following is Temminck's description :—Upper part of the body variegated and undulated with black and ochreous; lower parts ochreous, with longitudinal black dashes; throat white; feet covered to the nails with plumes of a reddish-yellow ; iris bright orange. Length two feet. The female is larger than the male; but the tints of her plumage are less bright, and she is without the white on the throat. It sometimes varies in having the colours less lively and in
being of inferior dimensions.
Its food consists of young roes and fasyns, hares, moles, rats, mice, winged game, frogs, lizards, and beetles.
It builds its nest in the hollows of rocks, in old castles and other ruins, where the female lays two or throe, but rarely four, round white eggs. Latham says two, " the size of those of a hen." 31. Cronstedt, who resided on a farm in Sudermania, near a mountain, had an opportunity of witnessing the devotion of these birds to their young, and their care in supplying them with food, even under extraordinary circumstances. Two Eagle-Owls had built their nest on the mountain, and a young one which had wandered away was taken by the servants and confined in a ben-coop. The next morning there was a dead partridge lying close to the door of the coop. Food was brought to the same place for fourteen successive nights ; this generally consisted of young partridges newly killed, but sometimes a little tainted. Once a moor-fowl was brought still warm under the wings, and at another time a piece of lamb in a, putrid state. 31. Cronstedt sat up with his servant many nights in order to observe the deposit of the supply if possible, but in vain. It was evident however to M. Cronstedt that the parents were the caterers, and on the look-out, for on the very night when 31. Cronstedt and his servant ceased to watch, the usual food was left near the coop. The supply continued from the time when the young owl was taken—in July—to the usual time, in the month of August, when these birds leave their young to their own exertions.
Bolen gives an account of the use which falconers made of this bird to entrap the kite. They tied the tail of a fox to the Eagle-Owl, and let him fly. This spectacle soon excited the attention of the kite, if he were near, and he continued to fly near the owl, not endeavour ing to hurt him, but apparently intent on observing his odd figure. While so employed the falconer surprised and took the kite.