2200 The Zoologist — July, 1870. 



but she continued to hover about without pouncing: the keeper 

 thought that a viper would be a more successful lure, and having 

 killed one, placed it on the trap : the bird on seeiiig it immediately 

 pounced on the reptile and was captured. I mention this to show 

 that in the predatory habits of onr Falconidae, and what are deemed 

 "vermin," results beneficial to man may be traced, as well as the 

 contrary. Ought we not to pause before we try to exterminate every 

 creature that we deem unexceptionably mischievous? — May 4, 1870.) 



Scops Eared Owl.— ^c'lWy Isles. The only instance of the 

 occurrence of this small owl in Cornwall was at Scilly, in April, 

 1847. This species exhibits the most delicate pencillings of gray 

 and brown in its plumage, surpassing the much admired plumage 

 of the wryneck and nightjar in these particulars : it is the smallest 

 species of British owl. The gray tone of plumage denotes the male 

 bird, the rufous tone the female. [The gray figure of this owl in 

 Gould's ' Birds of Great Britain,' was drawn from a specimen obtained 

 at Scilly in April, 1847.] 



Longeared Owl. — The occurrence of this bird in the neighbourhood 

 of Penzance, viz. Trengwainton, Trevethoe, Scilly and elsewhere, is 

 very frequent. 



Shorleared Owl. — Winter visitant: appears in October and 

 throughout the winter months very frequently : generally found in 

 the heath covert, and furze on the sides of hills; also in turnip 

 fields, and not unfrequently several together. 



Wliite Owl. — Rather rare in the western part of Cornwall, but more 

 numerous in the eastern part. 



Tawnij Old. — Generally distributed where any woodland districts 

 offer shelter. 



Huivk Owl. — The first recorded British example of this owl was 

 taken on board a collier, a few miles off the coast of Cornwall, in 

 March, 1830, in an exhausted state (See Yarrell's * British Birds,' 

 p. 139). A second example of this rare owl is recorded in the 

 'Zoologist' for February, 1850, from the pen of E. T. Higgins, who 

 says it was shot on the 25lh of August, 1847, on Blackwall hill, near 

 the Bristol and Exeter Railway, and came under his observation on 

 the following day. 



Little Owl. — Rare : one obtained near Helston, and in the collec- 

 tion of the late Mr. Magor, of Redruth : two are recorded to have 

 been taken near Plymouth. Natural habitat : Germany, Italy, Spain, 

 Levant, &c. 



