48 



BRITISH BIRDS 



barred with shades of brown. In the red type the upper parts 

 are reddish-brown with the pattern much 

 as in the grey type, and the under-parts chiefly 

 dull white with dusky streaks and paler bars. 

 The wing quills and tail are brown barred 

 chiefly with shades of the same colour. The tail 

 is tipped with white. The female is the larger. 

 Nest. None made. The eggs are laid 

 usually in the hole of a tree, also in recesses 

 or crevices in buildings and cliffs, old nests of 

 other species, such as Hawks and Crows, among 

 the exposed roots of trees, and in burrows. 



Eggs. Usually 2-4. White. Av. size, T84 

 Fig. 56. , x 1*52 in. Laying begins generally in March. 



'One brood, possibly two occasionally. 



93. Little-owl [Athene noctua noctua (Scopoli)]. Resident 

 and on the increase, owing to introduction by Lord Lilford 

 and others. Breeds only in England and Wales. Exceptional 

 vagrant to Scotland and Ireland. Possibly an occasional 

 visitor from the Continent. 



Bird. Length 9-9J in., the female the larger. Distinguished 

 from the other British owls described in this book by its much 

 smaller size, and by the white spots on the brown of the upper- 

 parts, forming lines and bars. Under-parts mostly dull white 

 with brown streaks. Wing quills and tail brown with paler 

 bars. Irides pale yellow. 



Nest. None made. Eggs laid in a hole in a tree, building, 

 or elsewhere, or in a burrow. 



Eggs. Usually 4-6. White. Av. size, 1*34x1 -13. Laid 

 April-May. One brood usual. 



(6) Family: Alcedinidce Kingfishers 



94. Kingfisher [Alcedo ispida isp'ida 

 Linnseus]. Rare in N. Scotland and 

 Ireland. Elsewhere local and more or less 

 stationary. 



Bird. Length 7-| in. Recognised by 

 the prevailing brilliant blues of the back, 

 wings, and tail, by the chestnut of the 

 under-parts and the relatively long black 

 beak. Throat white, bordered above on 

 each side of the neck and head by a blue 

 band, above which is a patch of white 

 passing into a patch of chestnut behind 

 the eye. Female has under mandible red. 



