on the Birds of South-eastern China. 199 



It is strictly nocturnal and very stupid in daylight, for it will 

 sit outside the Magpie^s nest in which it has deposited its 

 eggs and allow itself to be shot, or permit a climber to come 

 within a few feet of it before it will budge. Out of seven 

 clutches of eggs of this species which were taken, all except 

 one were placed in Magpies^ nests. That not so placed was 

 the only clutch which was not taken by one of the writers, 

 though from careful comparison of the eggs there is little 

 doubt as to their identity. In this case they were laid in 

 a hole in a steep bank of disintegrated sandstone, and there 

 was no nest. The first clutch was taken on April 22, 

 1902, and the eggs were on the point of hatching ; but eggs 

 were taken well-incubated in the first and second weeks of 

 May, and some as early as April 7, Avhich were well sat 

 upon, so that from the end of i\larch until the middle of May 

 is probably the breeding-season. The usual clutch seems 

 to be three, but two and five eggs sometimes occur in 

 a nest. 



Apparently this Owl does not begin to sit until the complete 

 clutch has been laid, for all eggs from the same nest appear 

 to be in the same stage of incubation. Although un- 

 doubtedly an old Magpie's nest is generally made use of, at 

 times this Owl will seize on a new one in which the Magpie 

 is about to lay, and which it has freshly renovated and lined 

 for that purpose. 



Twenty-one eggs average 1*40 X 1*20, and vary in length 

 from 1--48 to 1-34, and in breadth from 1-24 to MS. 



GlAUCIDIUM WHITELYI. 



This little Owl is a common resident species on the river, 

 both in Kwang Tung and Kwang Si, but it does not oocui', 

 or only rarely, on the coast. These birds are often flushed 

 from clumps of bamboo when Pigeons are being shot.. 

 The note is a loud chir-r-r-r-r ! which commencing with 

 a liquid sound, is followed by continually more rapid, 

 notes until a continuous " chur " results. The eggs are 

 laid in March, or early in April, and as a rule a hollow 

 tree or branch is chosen for their reception, but sometimes 

 a good nest is made ; at times the des<?rted domicile of 



