160 STRIGID^. 



au addition by migration in autumn. In Scotland, according 

 to Mr. Robert Gray, it is less common on the western than 

 on the eastern side, but it breeds in some of the Hebrides, 

 though altogether absent from the outer islands of the 

 chain. It has occurred twice in the Orkneys, and Mr. Saxby 

 mentions (Zoologist, s.s. p. 1762) his having obtained one 

 in Shetland in October, 1868. In Ireland, Thompson says 

 that it commonly inhabits old wooded districts in all parts of 

 the island. 



This species is found in all the countries of continental 

 Europe and over a great part of Asia. It has been received 

 from Iceland, and has occurred in the Fa3roes. In Norway 

 and Sweden, according to Herr Wallengren, it breeds as far 

 to the north as lat. 64°, and Wahlberg shot one near Lulea, 

 while it remains throughout the winter near Upsala. It is 

 tolerably common in southern Finland and throughout the 

 Russian Empire to the Sea of Ochotsk. Mr. Henry Whitely 

 obtained it at Hakodadi in Japan, and Mr. Swinhoe says it 

 is more or less common in many parts of China. Mr. Hume 

 believes it to be a permanent resident in the Himalayas, 

 where it occurs from Nepaul to Cashmere, and Mr. Jerdon 

 informed him that it is by no means rare in low jungles near 

 Delhi and thence through the Punjab. Menetries found it 

 in the forests of Georgia, and Mr. Abbott obtained it at 

 Trebizond. It occurs in Palestine, but not often and only 

 in the wooded districts and highlands. According to Dr. 

 von Heuglin, it is a common, but apparently not an annual, 

 winter- visitant to Arabia Petrtea and Lower Egypt. It occurs 

 also in Algeria, but is not marked by Loche as breeding 

 there; and, according to Dr. Bolle, it is found in the Canaries, 

 while Mr. Frederick Godman obtained a young bird, taken 

 from the nest, in the Azores. In Portugal Mr. A. C. Smith 

 says it is common ; and it is generally distributed and breeds 

 throughout Spain. In France it appears to be the most com- 

 mon of all the Owls. Within the limits thus traced it would 

 seem to occur in every suitable district, breeding as far south 

 as Sicily and the Peloponnesus. In the Cyclades it is a 

 regular winter visitor, and according to Mr. Wright it has 



