156 STRIGIDiE. 



p. 9020) a fourteenth English example taken at Flam- 

 borough in October, 1863. Mr. Eobert Gray mentions the 

 occurrence of three specimens in Scotland : one killed in 

 Sutherland in 1847, one in Orkney in 1851 and the third 

 caught alive on Cramond Island in the Firth of Forth in 

 December, 1860. In Ireland it does not seem to have 

 occurred. 



This little Owl inhabits thick forests in Norway, Sweden 

 and Russia, even in very high northern latitudes, but though 

 its eastern limits cannot be precisely stated, it would seem 

 not to extend very far into Siberia. Dr. William Carte ob- 

 tained it in the Crimea. In parts of Denmark it is said 

 to occur not uncommonly and to frequent the churches. 

 In Holstein, Boie states that it is a regular autumnal 

 migrant, arriving with the Woodcocks. Though local it is 

 well known throughout the larger forests of Central Europe. 

 Lord Lilford saw the skin of one which he was assured had 

 been shot in Corfu, and Dr. Liudermayer states that it occurs 

 though rarely in the northern parts of Greece. Egypt has 

 been given as a locality for this species, but apparently in 

 error, since Mr. G. R. Gray has kindly forwarded the in- 

 formation that a specimen in the British Museum, on which 

 the statement seems to rest, had been wrongly determined. 

 Tengmalm's Owl inhabits the Alpine forests of Italy, Switzer- 

 land and south-eastern France, while it also occasionally 

 occurs on the Vosges and in the Ardennes. 



Not much if anything very satisfactory was known respect- 

 ing the breeding-habits of this species until Wolley announced 

 to the Zoological Society in 1857, that in Lapland it lays its 

 eggs in holes of trees or in the nest-boxes which are set up 

 by the inhabitants for the Golden-eye Ducks ; and once 

 established it is not easily made to leave its quarters, being 

 able, it is said, to keep possession against a much larger 

 bird. The eggs are smooth and white, four or five in 

 number, and measure from 1"43 to 1*15 by 1'09 by -98 in., 

 an exceptionally small one being only '76 by '68 in. The 

 food of this Owl consists of mice and large beetles. Its 

 call-note is said to be a very musical, soft whistle. 



