114 THE NATUEALIST IN NOKWAY. 



The hawk owl (8. funerea) is seen in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Christiania in spring and autumn, no 

 doubt when it is migrating from the north. 



The barn owl (8. flammea). This owl, so common 

 in England, has been supposed to be unknown in 

 Sweden and Norway. Mr. Lloyd states that it has no 

 right to a place among the birds of Scandinavia, " for 

 the single specimen seen, and on the strength of which 

 Nilsson has included it in his fauna, was not in reality 

 secured in the peninsula, but on the mast of a ship off 

 the coast." This owl is, no doubt, a rara avis in Nor- 

 way, but I have seen an adult bird, which was taken 

 out of a nest in the parish of Baerum, about seven 

 English miles from Christiania. An English friend in 

 Norway also informs me that he once captured a pair 

 of barn owls, male and female, near Lake Mjosen. 



The sparrow owl (Noctua passerina}. This small 

 species is rather common in Norway, although it does 

 not venture within the Polar Circle. It is a most de- 

 termined and courageous little creature, especially 

 when it is considered that it is not more than five or 

 six inches in length. It is called here the spurv-ugle, 

 or sparrow owl. It preys constantly on small birds, 

 such as sparrows, greenfinches, etc., but occasionally 

 falls a victim to their combined attack. A number of 

 sparrows, chaffinches, and other small birds, will join 

 together and attack this diminutive owl ; union then 

 is strength, and the little owl succumbs to his nume- 

 rous foes. He dies game, however, and kills numbers 

 of his adversaries before he himself bites the dust. 

 This pigmy owl is pale brown, spotted with white on 

 the upper parts of the body ; the under surface is 

 nearly white ; eyes small, sharp, and piercing ; claws 



