7538 Birds. 



I never observed it attempt to seize one. About noon it usually 

 became very restless and irritable, ruffling its feathers, continually 

 changing its position, and snapping smartly at any one who tried to 

 handle it, though at other times such an act was not easily provoted. 



Longeared Owl {S. otits). Permanent. 



Shorteared Owl (jS*. brncliyotos). I only saw it in spring and 

 autumn, but it is said to remain to breed. 



Barn Owl [S.Jlammea). Permanent and abundant. 



Tawny Owl {S. aluco). Unfledged young were in the market as late 

 as August. 



Little Owl («S'. pnsserina). Common. Between the months of 

 March and October I seldom passed through the market without 

 seeing several living specimens, often as many as a dozen at one time. 

 The first eggs that I obtained were taken on the 15th of May, from a 

 hole in a wall, about thirty feet from the ground. They were half- 

 buried in a quantity of dust, composed of dry mortar and the castings 

 of old birds. It sometimes rears two broods in a season, laying only 

 two eggs each time. These are white, and in many instances nearly 

 round : the texture of the shell is as coarse as that of an egg of much 

 greater size. This bird is said to bear confinement tolerably well, 

 but of those kept in cages I never saw more than five which lived as 

 many months. They were fed upon raw flesh and small birds, and also 

 upon mice when they could be procured. The manner in which it is 

 employed as a decoy for small birds is still unknown to me, but I 

 seldom saw a bird-catcher going out to his employment who was not 

 carrying a little owl with him. Fresh specimens have the bill tipped 

 with red, but this colour disappears as the skin dries. 



*Tengmalm's Owl (.S". Tengmalmi). I neve rsaw more than three, and 

 they were brought to the market in April and May. No amount of 

 care and attention could keep them alive ; they soon died, although 

 they took food readily. At a distance this bird may easily be mis- 

 taken for the little owl, which (so far at least as I can ascertain) it 

 very much resembles in its habits. 



Ashcoloured Shrike (Lanius excubitor). On the 13th of March I 

 observed one lying dead at the bottom of its cage in the market-place 

 opposite the Hotel de Ville. Upon dissection it proved to be a 

 female. The stomach contained the remains of large beetles, thus 

 proving the bird to have been very recently captured. 



Redbacked Shrike (t. collurio). Summer. One nest in my pos- 

 session is composed of the usual materials, but upon the outside there 

 are great numbers of the skins of small hairy caterpillars : probably 



