EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 25 



THE LITTLE OWL. 



(Noctua noctua.)* 



Plate 6, Fig. 5. 



The Little Owl may normally be considered an accidental 

 visitor to England and Wales, but as many have been turned 

 loose in this country and are known to have bred here, it is 

 possible that before long the species may be considered to be 

 established as an inhabitant of Great Britain. 



The Little Owl is a resident throughout the whole of Europe 

 south of Scandinavia. In Northern Africa it is replaced by an 

 allied form, Noctua glaux ; and west of the Ural Mountains 

 another species, N. bactriana, occurs, extending through Central 

 Asia to Northern China. 



It is a somewhat early breeder ; and fresh eggs may be obtained 

 from the middle of April to the middle of May. The situation of 

 the nest, which is a mere scratch round of whatever rubbish may 

 be accidentally collected on the spot, is varied. Sometimes it is 

 in a hollow tree, sometimes in the cleft of a rock, sometimes in 

 the roof of a house ; and I have seen it under the roots of a tree. 



The number of eggs varies from four to six. They are pure 

 white in colour, oval in form, and measure from 1*4 to 1*35 inch 

 in length, and from 115 to T08 inch in breadth. 



THE SNOWY OWL. 



(Surnia nyctea.) i 



Plate 6, Fig. 7. 



The Snowy Owl is an occasional visitor to the British Islands. 

 It is an inhabitant of the Arctic Begions of Europe, Asia, and 

 America. It breeds on the tundras beyond the limit of forest 

 growth, or in similar climates at high elevations in less northerly 

 latitudes, and it only leaves these breeding grounds in conse- 

 quence of the scarcity of food caused by exceptional cold. It is 

 consequently only a partial migrant. 



* Athene noctua— Saunders, Manual, p. 291. Carine noctua— Sharpe, Handb. 

 Brit. B., II., p. 91. 



t Nyctea scandiaca — Saunders, Manual, p. 293. Nyctea nyctea— Sharpe, Handb. 



Brit. B., II., p. 84. 



