SYRNIUM ALUCO 71 



variety, some being very dark in coloration. On account of its darker 

 colour Mr. H. F. Witherby has recently distinguished the Tawny Owl from 

 Algeria and Marocco under the name of Syrniiun aluco mauritanicum (Bull. 

 B. 0. C. sv, p. 36). 



The English name of Tawny Owl is hardly appropriate in the case 

 of this species as found in Tunisia, the bird met with in the Regency, 

 and generally I believe in North-west Africa, being of the grey, and 

 not the tawny-rufous variety. In Southern Europe both phases of 

 plumage occur, the gveu being perhaps the commoner of the two, 

 particularly in Southern Italj'. In that country a third form is 

 occasionally met with, of a very dark blackish-brown colour. This 

 difference of coloration appears to be entirely independent of age, sex, 

 or season. 



S. aluco is resident and not at all uncommon in the more wooded 

 parts of North Tunisia, but does not appear to be recorded from the 

 districts south of the Atlas, and this range of mountains may 

 possibly form the limit of the species' southern range. 



In Algeria, according to Loche, this Owl is very common, being 

 found in all the wooded and mountainous districts, and it appears to 

 be more or less abundant in North Marocco. 



In its habits the species is eminently nocturnal, and is therefore 

 less often met with than it would otherwise be. It frequents thick 

 woods and forests, and is also partial to mountainous and rocky 

 localities. It is rather noisy, and its deep note maj' often be heard in 

 the stillness of the night. 



Its food, like that of most Owls, consists chiefly of small mammals, 

 and occasionally small birds and insects. 



The species is rather an early breeder, and generally deposits its 

 eggs in the hollow of some old tree, or in a mountain-cleft. The eggs, 

 usually three or four in number, are pure white, and measure about 

 45 X 40 mm. 



