308 Mr. W. C. Tait on the Birds of Portugal. 



them off, as I believe tliey feed on the Snipe and other birds 

 at night, a collection of feathers showing where they have 

 had a meal. During the day they sleep on a dry patch of 

 rice-stubble, in long grass or rushes. A friend was out 

 shooting, and on his dog coming to a point he saw one of 

 these Owls on the ground with a Quail in its claws. The 

 Owl rose and on firing he brought it down, when the Quail, 

 which was little hurt, flew away. 



I have noticed the Short-eared Owl fi'om the 18th October 

 to the 6th January, and have not met with it on the same 

 ground in the spring, summer, or autumn, nor in any other 

 part of Portugal, On November 1st, 1879, I put one up in 

 the daytime on the large spit of sand at the entrance to the 

 river Douro ; it was seated on a log of wood and Avas pro- 

 bably on passage. 



129. Syrxium aluco (Linn.). 



I have seen only one specimen of the Tawny Owl in this 

 country and that had been shot at the mouth of the Douro. 

 It is said to be common on the upper district of the Tagus 

 (Ribatejo), and I think it frequents the wide moors of the 

 Alemtejo. 



130. Scops giu (Scop.). 



The Scops Owl is common and migratory. I have re- 

 ceived eggs from Melres. Dr. Carvalho heard its note as 

 early as March 3rd in 1879, but in 1884 not till April 7th. 



131. Bubo ignavus, Forst. '' Bufo/' " Ujo," Melres; 

 " Corujao,^^ Coimbra Museum. 



The Eagle Owl is common on the precipices of the serras 

 and rivers. It is to be seen at the fine gorge of Na. Senhora 

 do Salto Aguiar de Sousa, about 12 miles from Oporto, where 

 the river Sousa breaks through the Serra de Santa Justa. 

 It breeds also on the Abitureira cliffs, on the north bank of 

 the Douro, a short distance above Melres, and other suitable 

 precipitous places. It nests very early in the year, and 

 makes great havoc with partridges, hares, and rabbits. 



132. Athene noctua (Scop.). '^Mocho.^^ 



The Little Owl is resident and the most abundant of the 



