EGGS OF SOMERSETSHIRE BIRDS 151 
sible cliff in this county seems probable, but I am 
not aware of eggs obtained in this county being in 
any collection. Their size is 2inches 3 lines in 
length, by 1 inch 10 lines in breadth; in colour a 
soiled white, slightly spotted with pale brown. In 
Scotland they breed on cliffs, but prefer trees when 
sufficiently commodious for their purpose. 
STRIGIDAE. STRIX. 
5.— Strix flammea.— White or Barn Owl. 
The extraordinary peculiarity of incubation, confined, as I 
believe, to the strigid® or family of the owls, is fully 
borne out by the species in question; I allude to the 
finding in the same nest, and at the same period, young 
birds in various stages of developement ; and also 
eggs, some far advanced in incubation, others newly 
laid; so that the sole business of the parent birds, during 
the breeding season, must consist in rearing and pro- 
viding for their progeny ; and that this season is of 
considerable duration, seems proved by the fact of 
young birds being found in the nest so late as Decem- 
ber. The eggs of this and of other owls are white ; 
the size in this species is 1 inch 6 lines in length, by 
1 inch 3 lines in breadth. 
SYRNIUM. 
6.—Syrnium Aluco.— Tawny Owl. 
Eggs of this species are larger in proportion than those of 
the preceding; they are smooth and white, in length 
1 inch 10 lines, and in breadth 1 inch 6 lines; they 
are usually found in some hollow tree about the 
month of April. I however found some eggs of this 
species in a rabbit hole on the neighbouring hills. 
