A TENGMALM'S OWL CAPTURED IN 



NORTHUMBERLAND. 



Its Behaviour in Captivity. 



BY 



J. M. CHARLTON. 



On January 31st, 1912, I received word that a small owl 

 had been shot in the vicinity of the 8eaton Burn, North- 

 umberland. Accordingly, I immediately cycled over to 

 the house of the owner at Seaton Sluice, and was pleased 

 to find a specimen of Tengmalm's Owl {^golius t. teng- 

 malmi) sitting contentedly in a small wooden dove-cage. 

 Mr. James Hall, in whose possession the bird was, informed 

 me that he had " winged " it in Holywell Dene on 

 December 11th, 1911, his setter having flushed it from a 

 hawthorn bush in a small ravine. It was apparently 

 much confused by' the light, making no attempt to defend 

 itself, and when brought home and placed on a table 

 at first crouched down, and stared around with a some- 

 what bewildered expression. However, shortly after- 

 wards, the news of its capture having spread, a party of 

 the owner's friends collected and stood around gazing at 

 the Owl, which had already so far lost its sense of fear 

 that it devoured a Sparrow on the table. 



At the time of my visit it was thoroughly accustomed 

 to its surroundings, and perching on its master's hand 

 when he put it into the cage, it allowed itself to be lifted 

 out, and would sit there without attempting to get away, 

 even out of doors. The kitten of the household, however, 

 caused it some alarm at first, and on its near approach 

 the Owl crouched down, vibrating the throat, but emitting 

 no sound. If it came within reach the bird " clicked " 

 its beak and attempted to strike with it. So mild, how- 

 ever, was the kitten's disposition that he did not at all 

 resent this, and finally so overcame the natural hatred of 

 the Owl as to assure it of his own good intentions. 



The Owl feeds almost entirely on Sparrows and mice. 

 The former it pulls to pieces, leaving the wings and tail, 



