146 Short Communications : — 



flock of grey linnets that used to congregate on the leafless 

 branches of an old ash in my father's stack-yard, singing in 

 lively and cheering concert, for eight or ten days, as they 

 passed in November. * — W. L, SelJcirJcshire^ December 20. 

 1833. [See also in p. 175. of the present Number.] 



Owls capture Fishes for Food. — In addition to the instances 

 of this fact already registered in I. 179., II. 288., V. 13., the 

 following one, told me by a friend, may be cited. In the 

 neighbourhood of Harrowgate there is a large building called 

 the Observatory, which affords from its summit an extensive 

 view. A pair of owlets, taken from a nest in an adjoining wood, 

 were placed in a cage on the summit of the tower, and for 

 nearly six weeks the old birds came every evening to feed 

 them there. They brought them, in addition to mice and 

 pieces of flesh, frequently fishes. The river Nidd is three miles 

 from the spot. Could they have procured the fishes thence ? 

 — A, Bloxam. RtigbT/, Warwickshire, Jan. 1834. 



An Instance of the Baim OwVs seeking its Food at Mid-day 

 in sunny Weather. — I have once seen a barn owl on wing at 

 between the hours of twelve and one o'clock in the middle of 

 the day. The sun was shining brightly at the time. The owl, 

 as the sequel proved, was seeking food. After I had watched 

 it for some minutes, I saw it descend, and light upon the side 

 of a bank of an old watercourse, and remain there for the 

 space of a minute. It appeared to me to be working hard 

 ■with its talons during that time, as if removing something 

 that impeded its immediate attack on its prey. At the ex- 

 piration of that period its labour was crowned with reward, for 

 it then took wing, bearing away in its talons a fine mouse. — 

 A. D. April, 1833. 



The Food {Contents of the Pellets) of Owls. (V. IS. 727.) 



* I am aware that there are often exceptions to these (as I suppose) gene- 

 ral habits ; for I have often seen hawks of different species skimming with 

 great swiftness southwards over the downs and fields of these districts, 

 generally during a fall of snow. On July 24. 1830, I met a small flight of 

 water swallows (-ETirundo riparia), and, about ten minutes after, another, 

 flying south over Bowden Muir, about seven o'clock in the afternoon. 

 They were evidently on a journey ; besides, it was nearly two miles from 

 the Tweed, which they were apparently leaving. Again : a friend has told 

 me that while himself and a companion were returning home early from a 

 party in Edinburgh, on a foggy morning, they heard a flock of wild geese 

 passing close over the city. They were aware of this from the repeated 

 calls of the geese to one another, which calls were probably necessary to 

 prevent separation : but they likewise distinctly heard the sound of their 

 wings, which the stillness of the streets of Edinburgh at such an hour 

 made easily distinguishable. The winged travellers were passing north- 

 ward, as their course was indicated by their calls dying away in the increas- 

 ing distance. 



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