44 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



I. 



SCOPS ASIO (Linnseus). 

 AMEEICAN MOTTLED OWL. 



This small North American species was first included 

 amongst the accidental visitants to tliis country, hj the 

 late Mr. Yarrell, in the third edition of his '^British 

 Birds," in which will be found the notice of a specimen 

 shot in the neighbourhood of Leeds in 1852, and of 

 which a figure and description were given in " The 

 Naturahst" for the same year (p. 169). Mr. Gurney 

 informs me that some years back he purchased from 

 the late Mr. Thurtell, then a nurseryman, at Eaton, 

 (when selling off his collection of Norfolk Birds,) an 

 adult specimen of this rare owl, said to have been 

 killed near Yarmouth, but till then supposed to be only 

 an European Scops Owl. This bird was unfortunately 

 destroyed after it came into Mr. Gurney's possession. 



OTUS VULGARIS, Fleming. 

 LONG-EAEED OWL. 



The Long-eared Owl is another instance of the 

 changes which have taken place in a few years from local 

 causes, in the habits of some of our feathered visitants. 

 Whilst drainage and the plough are fast driving the 

 harriers and other marsh breeders from their accus- 

 tomed haunts, the rapid increase in our fir plantations, 

 especially near the coast, affords such inducements to 

 this species to remain and breed with us, that the 

 autumn visitant of a few years since, only occasionally 

 known to stay through the summer, may now be more 

 properly termed a numerous resident, receiving additions 



