61 



TENGMALM'S OWL. 



NOCTUA TENGMALMI. 



Upper parts reddish brown, spotted with white ; the spots on the scapulars and 

 wing-coverts dispersed in lines ; tail interruptedly barred with white ; under- 

 parts yellowish white, spotted with brown ; tarsi and toes thickly clothed with 

 soft feathers. Length eight to nine inches. Eggs pure white. 



This little Owl takes its name from Dr. Tengmalm, 

 a Swedish naturalist, who first pointed out the difference 

 between it and the foregoing species. It is a pretty bird, 

 scarcely bigger than a Blackbird, and in habits closely 

 resembles the Little Owl, but few specimens have occurred 

 in Britain, though from its close resemblance to the 

 other species, it may be more common than it is generally 

 supposed to be. So impatient is it of light that when 

 accidentally surprised by daylight it becomes so dazzled 

 and confased as to be easily caught by the hand. " Its cry 

 in the night is a single melancholy note repeated at 

 intervals of a minute or two ; and it is one of the super- 

 stitious practices of the Indians to whistle when they hear 

 it. If the bird is silent when thus challenged, the speedy 

 death of the inquirer is augured ; hence its Cree name of 

 'Death-bird."^* 



THE GREAT GREY SHRIEJE. 



LANIUS EXCu'bITOR. 



Head, nape, and back, bright ash grey ; a broad black band beneath the eyes ; 

 under plumage pure white ; wings short, black ; base of the primaries and tips 

 of the secondaries white ; tail with the two middle feathers black, and the outer 

 on each side white with a black spot at the base, the rest black and white ; 

 bill and feet black. Female of a more dingy hue above ; below dull v>^hite, the 

 proportion of black in the feathers increasing as they approach the middle ; 

 each feather of the breast terminating in a crescent-shaped ash grey spot. 

 Length ten inches ; breadth fourteen inches. Eggs bluish white, spotted at the 

 larger end with two shades of brown. 



The family of Shrikes, or Butcher-birds, would seem to 



occupy an intermediate station between birds of prey and 



insectivorous birds. The subject of the present chapter 



* Dr. Richardson. 



