106 A HAND-LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



DISTRIBUTION. England. Rare vagrant. About twenty authentic 

 records chiefly in Yorks. (twelve), Northumberland, Norfolk, and 

 Suffolk, also one or two so far south as Kent and Somerset, Salop 

 (one), Northants. (one), Lanes, (one), Cumberland (one). (In Oct. 

 and Nov., 1901, it occurred in Suffolk (two), Norfolk, Yorks. and 

 Shetlands.) Scotland. Tour. Cramond Is. (Forth) Dec., 1860. 

 Peterhead (Aberdeen), Feb., 1886. Shetlands, Nov., 1901, and 

 January, 1908 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. North Europe, mountain-forests of cen- 

 tral and east Europe, Siberia ; in winter and autumn, vagrant. 

 Replaced by allied forms in north-east Siberia, Caucasus, and North 

 America. 



ATHENE NOCTUA* 



222. Athene noctua noctua (Scop.) THE LITTLE OWL. 



STRIX NOCTUA Scopoli, Annus i, Historico-Xat., p. 22 (1772 Carniola ; 

 description bad, perhaps doubtful, but Retzius, Faun. Suec., p. 84, 1800, 

 gave a clear description of the Little Owl, adopting the same name). 

 Carine noctua (Scopoli), Yarrell, I, p. 178 ; Athene noctua (Scopoli), 

 Saunders, p. 301. 



DISTRIBUTION. England and Wales. Now resident as an introduced 

 bird. About twenty early recorded examples may have been 

 genuine vagrants, but since Waterton turned out five in Yorks. in 

 1843, large numbers have been introduced, notably by Lord Lilford 

 at Oundle, Northants., some years previous to 1889, and by Mr. 

 E. G. B. Meade-Waldo near Edenbridge, Kent, about 1874. From 

 Oundle they have spread greatly and now breed in Northants., 

 Leicester, south Derby , Rutland, Lines, (probably Yorks.), Hunts., 

 Cambs., Beds., Herts., and Berks., and have occurred in Staffs., 

 Salop, Warwick, Worcester., Hereford., Gloucester., Oxon., Wilts., 

 Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Notts. From Edenbridge they have spread 

 and breed through west half Kent and much of Sussex and Surrey, 

 while a record of breeding at Portsmouth may be due to this intro- 

 duction. Examples recorded from Anglesey, Ireland, and Scotland 

 were probably escapes. 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. Europe from North Sea (once in South 

 Sweden) to Mediterranean. Replaced by allied forms in north Africa 

 and parts of west Asia. 



* The generic name Athene has been rejected on account of the previous 

 Athena of Hiibner for a genus of moths ; but no explanation of the meanings 

 of either name being given, both may stand. Otherwise Carine would have 

 to be adopted. E.H. 



