40 CATALOGUE OF THE BIRDS OF SUFFOLK. 



Counties, but now (so far as I can judge) it appears to be 

 more rare in Suffolk than the Hen Harrier which it greatly 

 resembles in so tates (see Stev. B. of N. i. 39) ; hence 

 one bird may sometimes have been taken for the other. The 

 very dark form mentioned above (in the Bury Museum) was 

 considered by Vieillot to be a distinct species which he 

 called Circus ater ; but it is now generally thought to be a 

 melanite form of this bird. (Stev. u. s. p. 42 and J. H. 

 Gurney jun. in Z. 2nd S. 2305). The drainage of marshes 

 and fens and the reclamation of waste lands have done much 

 to reduce the number of all the Harriers, and the gamekeepers 

 have still further assisted in diminishing it (see Stev. B. 

 of N. i. 35 and 39, and Cordeaux in Miller and Skertchley's 

 Fentand District, 376, note). 



Fam. Strigltle, 



"White or Barn Owl, Striz Jlammea, L. 



S. and W. Cat. 7. 



Districts all. Reported from many localities as common 

 and not mentioned as rare in any. Breeds. Mr. Hele 

 finds it more common in cold weather in the winter than at 

 other times, (Hele, A Id. 79). One with i n usually dark 

 plumage was shot near Yarmouth in Sept. 1879; the whole 

 of the breast, abdomen and under parts being of a uniform 

 deep buff colour (T. E. Gunn in Z. 3rd S. iv. 49 ; on the 

 dark form (Danish ?) of this bird see Stev. B. of N. i. 53). 

 It is a great friend to the farmer from the quantity of rats 

 and mice which it destroys. 



Tawny Owl, Syrnium aluco. (L.). 



S. and W. Cat. 7. — Spald. List, xxxv. 



Districts all. Kecorded as common at Yarmouth (Paget, Y. 4), 

 and Sudbury (King, List) ; as not uncommon at Gazeley (Tearle 

 MS.) ; as occasional or not common at Bealings (Moor MS.), Oakley 

 (W. Clarke MS.), Barton Mere (H Jones v. v.), Brettenham (T. B. Beale 

 v.v.), and Rattlesden (Col. Parker v. v.) ; as rare at Aldeburgh (Hele 

 Aid. 79), Bramford (Haward MS.), and Bougham (F. Clarke). Speci- 

 mens recorded from various other places. Nests or very young birds 

 observed at Friston (Hele, Aid. 79), Polstead (Cooke MS.), Elveden (A. 

 Newton in Ooth. Woll. Ill and Note), Drinkstone (Tuck v. v.), Bougham 

 (Morris v. v.)> and Pakenham (Casbome v.v.). 



