STRIGID.T.. 



>99 



TENGMALM'S OWL. 



Nyctala tengmalmi (J. F. Gmelin). 



This small Owl, with thick and downy plumage, is an inhabitant 

 of northern or elevated forest-regions, whence it migrates in severe 

 weather ; and, at long intervals, it has wandered to Great Britain in 

 autumn and winter, as well as in spring, presumably on its return 

 northwards. Since the beginning of this century about twenty 

 examples have been taken in England — chiefly in Northumber- 

 land, Yorkshire, Norfolk and Suffolk ; specimens have, however, 

 been obtained as far south as Kent and Somerset (though a so- 

 called Sussex example proved to be a Little Owl) ; also in Shrop- 

 shire (once) ; near Preston in Lancashire (once) ; and in Cumber- 

 land on November 3rd 1876. In Scotland one was captured alive 

 in December i860 on Cramond Island, Firth of Forth ; and an 

 adult female was recorded from the vicinity of Peterhead on 

 February 3rd 1S86. As yet there is no record from Ireland. 



On Heligoland Tengmalm's Owl has occurred about thirty times 

 in fifty years. It inhabits Scandinavia, Lapland, Finland and 

 Russia, almost up to the northern limit of the forests ; while its 

 southern breeding-range in the latter country coincides with the 

 growth of Pinus sylvestris, and reaches as far as Saratov and Oren- 

 burg. In winter its migrations extend to Guriev, where the Ural 

 River empties into the Caspian ; but Dr. Menzbier does not believe 

 in its asserted existence in the Crimea. It breeds in the higher 



