NOTES. 245 



SPREAD OF THE LITTLE OWL 



In Berkshire, Norfolk, and Lincolnshire. 



As this bird appears to be spreading all over England, it 

 may be as well to record localities where I believe it has not 

 been previously observed : Merton Hall, Norfolk — one seen 

 October 6th, 1911 ; Park Place, Henley, Berkshire — one on 

 December 26th, 1911. 



With reference to the note on page 229, I have known 

 of the Little Owl being present and breeding in Lincolnshire, 

 at Harlaxton Manor, near Grantham, for several years, and 

 I also saw it at Witham Hall, Bourne, five years ago. 



Heatley Noble. 

 In Yorkshire. 

 It is reported in the Naturalist (1912, p. 21) that a pair of 

 Little Owls were shot at Leconfield on October 3rd and 5th, 

 1911, the female " evidently having performed the duties of 

 incubation." 



In Shropshire. 

 During a shoot at Peplow on December 28th, 1911, two 

 birds were flushed which flew off. Thinking they were 

 Woodcock, one of the guns fired and brought down one of 

 the birds. On examination it proved to be a Little Owl 

 {Athene noctua), and it is being preserved to add to the 

 Hawkstone Collection now at Peplow Hall. H. E. Forrest. 



MONTAGU'S HARRIER IN BERKSHIRE. 



Through the kindness of Sir Gilbert Clayton East, Bart., 

 of Hall Place, Maidenhead, I have recently been shown a 

 very interesting specimen of a male Montagu's Harrier {Circus 

 cineraceus) killed on his property in September or October, 

 1870. This bird is of the dark variety; in fact, I am assured 

 by the owner that when first killed it was sooty-black, though 

 now faded to a uniform dark brown. The only light mark- 

 ings noticeable are seen when the tail is examined from 

 below. The bars are then distinct, but when examined from 

 above they are indistinct. This is the second record I have 

 of a Montagu's Harrier killed in Berkshire. I shall be very 

 glad to know if the dark variety has ever previously been 

 found in England. Heatley Noble. 



[In Yarrell, 4th ed., Vol. I., p. 143, it is remarked that 

 the dark brown or black variety " has several times been 

 killed in this country." On consulting the county avifaunas 

 we find mention of specimens from Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, 

 Hampshire, Kent, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Northumberland. — 

 Eds.] 



