408 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
But these sounds appear to be only the introduction of the usual 
nightly concert. A Long-eared Owl (Waldshreule) begins piano, 
with a long protracted scream, which sinks into hollow deep 
notes; a Tawny Owl (Waldkauz) joins in crescendo, with 
disagreeable hoarse tones; and then all the Long-eared and 
Tawny Owls of the neighbourhood fall in one after another until 
they reach a protracted fortissimo; a loud frightfully discordant 
chorus, with a burst of hideous laughter as a jinale. This 
unearthly music does not drown the hollow disagreeable hooting 
of the great Eagle Owl (Uhu), which approaches nearer and 
nearer, and is not unlike the baying and yelping of a hound; 
now it changes to jeering laughter, shouts of joy, sharp screams, 
or hollow deep cries, echoing the bird’s own name (Uhu), 
accompanied by quick movements and snapping of its beak. 
This is the terrible concert which Owls and Goatsuckers keep 
up during the night; and is well calculated to create alarm 
in anxious and superstitious minds, inducing them to ascribe 
these noises to supernatural powers; so that the story of the wild 
huntsman and other fairy tales seem almost entitled to be regarded 
as true. But having listened long enough to this discordant 
music, we hasten on our way, rejoiced to think that, hungry and 
tired as we are, we shall soon reach home. 
ON SOME VARIATIONS IN HELIX ARBUSTORUM, Linn. 
By B. B. Woopwarp, F.G.S., F.R.M.S. 
Some months ago my attention was called to a paragraph, by 
Mr. J. W. Taylor, in the ‘ Scottish Naturalist,’ recording the 
discovery of Helix arbustorum var. Baylei, Lecog., near Loch 
Brora, in Scotland. I at once wrote to Mr. W. Baillie, of Brora, 
who was said to have found it, and he very kindly placed at my 
disposal all his duplicate specimens of H. arbustorum from that 
northern neighbourhood. 
The cursory examination made at the time of its arrival 
showed that the little collection afforded some very interesting 
peculiarities regarding the variations in colour, markings, &c., 
to which this species is liable; but until quite lately no oppor- 
tunity occurred for working them out. 
—_- 
