LITTLE OWL. 179 



been already mentioued, that from the general similarity in 

 appearance of this and Tengmalm's Owl, they have been 

 more than once mistaken the one for the other. The Little 

 Owl is not strictly nocturnal in its habits, for one observer 

 has seen it, at midday, when the sun was shining brightly, 

 carry off a Sparrow from a flock ; but, as a rule, towards the 

 evening it becomes more active and vigilant. It seldom haunts 

 forests ; but frequents old buildings, towers, and church 

 walls, where, as well as in hollow trees, and even in a rabbit- 

 hole, its nest is found. The female lays from three to five 

 white eggs of a short oval form, measuring from 1*48 to 

 1-28 by from 1-2 to 1-09 in. The male takes his turn in 

 sitting upon the eggs, and rearing the young, which are fed 

 upon mice, small birds, frogs, beetles, moths and cater- 

 pillars. Its note is said to resemble somewhat that of the 

 Scops-Owl, though the difference between them is easily 

 recognized by those who are acquainted with both. 



In a cage the Little Owl will live for some time if care be 

 taken to supply it sufficiently with mice or birds having their 

 fur or feathers left on. A pair in Mr. Gurney's possession, 

 bred, but did not rear the young. The actions of this species 

 in captivity are grotesque and ridiculous beyond measure. 

 Advantage is taken of them by the continental bird-catchers, 

 who find it irresistibly attractive when tethered near their 

 nets, snares or limed twigs. 



Edwards drew his figure of this Little Owl, from a speci- 

 men caught alive in a chimney in London ; and a second 

 example was taken about the same time in a similar situation, 

 in the parish of Lambeth. Since then about a score of 

 examples are said to have been observed in England, in the 

 counties of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Middlesex, Norfolk (where 

 its nest is stated, by Hunt, to have been taken), Cambridge, 

 Derby, York, Westmoreland, Flint, Worcester, Wilts and 

 Devon ; but the species does not seem to have been noticed 

 either in Scotland or Ireland. Some of the occurrences on 

 record are possibly due to the importation from the continent 

 of living birds which have escaped from captivity or have 

 been intentionally liberated. Thus in 1842, Waterton, who 



