NOTES. 315 



Exceptionally, I have known this Owl behave in a similar 

 manner during the winter months. On January 28th, 1910, 

 there was a very heavy fall of snow accomj)anied by a strong 

 wind; many large drifts were formed. On the 29th, at 3 p.m., 

 a Barn-Owl was noted hunting over the fields, and the following 

 day at the same hour a bird of this species was behaving in a 

 similar manner in another locality. No doubt these birds had 

 been prevented by the storm from securing sufficient food at 

 night, and so were impelled by hunger to come out in the 

 Hght of day. 



When a Barn-Owl is suddenly disturbed from its dark retreat 

 during the hours of dayhght, it naturally cannot see distinctly 

 until the iris has become adapted to the stronger hght, 

 and so it blunders in' its flight ; this, no doubt, has given rise 

 to the idea that this species cannot see except between sunset 

 and sunrise. Eric B. Dunlop. 



[Waterton wrote {Nat. Hist. Essays, p. 274. Ed. N. Moore): 

 " I have repeatedly seen it catch mice in the daytime, even 

 when the sun shone bright." — Eds.] 



MONTAGU'S HARRIER IN NORFOLK. 



A MALE Montagu's Harrier {Circus cineraceus), in immature 

 plumage, was found dead at Weeting Hall, near Brandon, 

 Norfolk, last autumn, having hit a telegraph-wire. Possibly 

 this was one of those which were protected at great cost on 

 one of the Broads last year, and were successfully reared 



W. Portal. 

 ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD IN NORTHUMBERLAND. 

 On November 14th, 1910, an immature male Rough-legged 

 Buzzard {Buteo lagopus) was shot at Seaton-Delaval, Northum- 

 berland. The bird was a very dark specimen, and had been 

 observed in the neighbourhood for a fortnight. 



J. M. Charlton. 

 SHAG IN SUFFOLK. 



On January 23rd, 1911, an immature Shag {Phalacrocorax 

 graculus) was sent to me by post with a request to name it, 

 and the following account of its capture : — " My son was 

 riding his bicycle home the other evening about 7.30, and 

 the bird seemed dazzled by the lamp, and flew up against it. 

 He jumped off and caught it, and the next morning I cut the 

 wing-feathers and turned it into a very large pond which I 

 have in front of my house. Unfortunately this was partially 

 frozen over, and the bird dived and got under the ice, and was 

 drowned." This occurred near Lavenham in west Suffolk 

 about thirty-two miles from the sea. Julian G. Tuck. 



