PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 



(cf. p. 406 postta ; and also Ticehuret, op. cit., pp. 252-53 ; Cordeuux, 

 Zoologist, 1877, p. 9 et 9tq. ; Ussher and Warren, loc. cit. ; Williams, British Birds, 

 i. p. 358 ; and others). [A. L. T. ) 



4. Nest and Eggs. Though the nesting-sites vary considerably, they are 

 all on the ground : sometimes among rushes and coarse vegetation in a marsh or 

 among cut reeds ; on the moorlands often among thick heather ; while on the hill 

 pastures the eggs are merely laid in a depression or scratching in short grass, and 

 among sand-dunes in a hollow among the sand and marram grass. (PI. xxxiv.) 

 Here the eggs are laid, usually from 4-7 or 8 in number, but during vole plagues 

 many nests have been found with 10 eggs, and even 12-13, and in one instance 14 ! 

 Considerable intervals take place, as a rule, in such cases between the first and last 

 laid eggs. They are white, in texture and lack of gloss resembling other owls' eggs, 

 and rather variable in size and shape. (PI. E*.) Average of 100 eggs, 1 '57 x 1*21 in. 

 [39-9 x 30*9 mm.]. The normal breeding season begins during the latter part of 

 April, but during vole plagues clutches have been found as early as February, and 

 in such seasons probably two or three broods are reared. Incubation is carried 

 on by the hen, who sits very closely, while her mate keeps guard not far away. 

 Probably the duration is about the same as that of the other smaller owls, viz. 

 about four weeks, [r. o. a. jr.] 



5. Food. During the vole plagues it is chiefly this species which has been 

 instrumental in reducing the abnormally large numbers of field-voles. As a rule 

 pellets of this species are not easily obtainable for examination, so that our informa- 

 tion is comparatively defective. Geyr von Schweppenburg's researches in Germany, 

 however, give the following results: voles, 87*20 per cent. ; mice, 11*20 per cent. ; 

 birds, *90 per cent. ; bank-vole, *70 per cent. It is said occasionally to take rabbits 

 (Gatke), moles, frogs, and the larger insects, and Howard Saunders states that it 

 also feeds on lemmings, bats, and fish. [p. c. R. J.] 



6. Song Period. Is most vociferous during the breeding season, [w. p. p.] 



LITTLE-OWL [Athene noctua (Scopoli). French, chevtche ; German, 

 Steinkauz ; Italian, civetta]. 



i. Description. The little-owl is to be distinguished by its greyish brown 

 coloration, spotted and barred with white, and the swollen, pea-shaped prominence 

 in which the nostril is placed. The female differs from the male in its larger size. 

 (PI. 84.) Length, male, 9 in. [228*60 mm.], female, 9*5 in. [241.30 mm.]. Irides 



