124 On the Occurrence, of some of the Rarer Species of Birds 
inhabitant of northern latitudes, and is found in Canada, as also in 
Sweden, and the North of Europe. The individual specimen I have 
mentioned is now in the possession of Mr. Rawlence, of Wilton, 
‘having been presented to him by Mr. Long, of Amesbury, who is 
now residing at Coombe Bissett, near here. On writing to him on 
the subject he kindly sent me the following reply: “I am sorry I 
cannot fix the exact date when either myself or my younger brother 
killed the bird in question. All I can answer for is that it was — 
killed in the parish of Amesbury, and it is some years since. My 
brother died in 1853, and I am nearly positive it was before his 
death. I remember it was in severe weather. I did not know of 
its rarity till Mr. Rawlence chanced to see it, and I felt great 
pleasure in giving it to him to add to his beautiful collection.” 
This bird was exhibited at the Zoological Society of London, on 
the 4th of April last (1876), as being the only authentic specimen 
of the European Hawk Owl yet recorded, as having been killed in 
England. There are one or two other instances of its capture, and 
one or two only, but they have occurred on the western coasts of our 
island, giving rise at once to the conjecture that they had been 
blown across the Atlantic by some storm from America. So that 
from what has been said Wiltshire alone can apparently boast of 
possessing a true specimen of the Swedish Hawk Owl up to this date. 
Strix Nyctea, ‘Snowy Owl.” I must perforce acknowledge that 
I mention this bird only with a view to make my list complete. It 
is the only one of the Owls concerning which I can gather xo district 
news at all. Mr. Rawlence has a fine specimen of this bird, as well 
as myself, but they are not local—mine having been brought over 
from Canada, where it had been killed by the Indians. 
Strie Passerina, “The Little Owl’ I come now, in conclusion, 
to the mention of the three smaller kinds of Owls, all of which are 
but rare visitants to our island, and concerning only one of which I 
am able to gain much information. Mr. Hart writes me word: “I 
do not think either the ‘ Scops,” Tengmalms, or ‘ Little Owl’ have 
been killed within ten years near here.” But he has in his own 
collection a very nice specimen of the “ Little Owl,” that was killed 
in the neighbourhood of the New Forest, some twenty years ago or 
