66 THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



that other birds of prey in my possession have not 

 rejected these curious little insectivora. In conclu- 

 sion, I would earnestly beg all or any of my readers 

 who may have it in their power to protect and en- 

 courage the Barn Owl in all ways, and to rest assured 

 that they will find him, though undoubtedly of a 

 retiring disposition, a most quaint, interesting, and 

 valuable friend. His voice is not pleasant, but we 

 cannot expect everything even in an Owl. 



21. LITTLE OWL. 



Athene noctua. 



I am glad to say that I have, since the preceding 

 notes were published, succeeded in establishing the 

 Little Owl as a resident Northamptonshire bird, and 

 consider that this species is entitled to a separate 

 number and article, as fully as are the Pheasant and 

 Red-legged Partridge. I have for a considerable 

 number of years annually purchased a number of 

 these Owls in the London market, and as the majority 

 are too young to fly when first received, I have had 

 them placed together in large box-cages in quiet 

 places about our grounds at Lilford, and left the 

 doors of the cages open, taking care that an ample 

 supply of food is provided once during the day for 

 the Owls. I regret that I have not kept notes as to 

 when I first adopted this practice, but for several 

 years, beyond the fact that we occasionally saw and 

 frequently heard of one or more of the Little Owls in 

 the neighbourhood, nothing of importance came of 

 the experiment, so far as I am aware, till 1889, when 

 one of our gamekeepers, on April 23, found a Little 



