146 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



have been the larger species, Huhua lacteiis. A fine Eagle- 

 Owl was shot while we were in Egypt by the Duke of 

 Connaught's party. 



30. Short-eared Owl, Asio accipitrinus (Pall.) ; 

 Otus brachyotiis (Forster). 



I saw skins to sell at Alexandria and Damietta. Mr. 

 Allen says it comes in April (Ibis, 1864, p. 236). Can this 

 be a misprint } 



31. Barn Owl, Strix flammea, Linn., (Hasselquist, 196); 

 " Buma Beda." 



During the day they generally repose in the crown of a 

 palm, or in the recesses of cliffs. Once north, and repeatedly 

 south of Cairo, we met with this Owl. I found one in the 

 sanctuary, or adytum of Edfou, and all my efforts could 

 not dislodge him ; but the place where we saw most of 

 them was in the lofty cliffs of Gebel-Abou-Foeder. Here I 

 counted as many as three pairs in an afternoon's row. They 

 had all chosen lower holes than the Egyptian Geese which 

 were nesting in the same locality, seeming, like the numerous 

 Pigeons, not to go above high water-mark. On the 27th 

 May I saw one in the Ezbekeiah garden at Cairo.* 



32. Southern Little Owl or Athenian Owl, 

 Carine glaux (Savigny) ; "Booma." 



This is a comical little bird, and very common in every 

 village. In some parts there is not a clump of Palm tree 



'" From Mr. Combin, the keeper of the Cromer Hghthouse, I learn 

 that Barn Owls are attracted by the moths which come in large num- 

 bers to the lantern. He has seen them catch them. 1 believe this fine 

 light, visible at twenty-seven miles' distance, has been the death of 

 many a rarity. 



