52 CLARKE : THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



Matthew Wilson, of Eshton Hall, near Skipton, in describing his 

 exploits to a gentleman, said that some years ago he shot such a 

 thing as he never saw before or since — " it was a regular formed 

 'HuUet' not bigger than his fist with horns above its eyes," and 

 undoubtedly this was the species thus described. Mr. Arthur 

 Strickland says a beautiful specimen of this little bird appeared 

 in July, 1832, in the grounds at Boynton, and by its loud and 

 distinct note attracted general attention. This note was like the 

 sound of a single note on a musical instrument, repeated at about half 

 a minute's interval, and was so loud that it could be distinctly 

 heard in the house when the bird was some distance off in the 

 "tall trees. After a time it was shot by firing at the sound, for it 

 was too dark to see the bird. Another specimen was shot near 

 Driffield about the year 1839 ; and from the description given to 

 him Mr. Allis had no doubt that this species had also occurred 

 in the grounds of Mr. Beaumont, of Sandhutton. 



Mr. Thomas Stephenson, of Whitby, writes me that Mr. 

 William Lister, of Glaisdale, has not the least doubt that this 

 species was shot on the Egton Estate in 1865. The bird was 

 described to him as being a little mottled owl. only half the size 

 of the Short-eared Owl, and having longer ears. Mr. Lister went 

 to examine this bird, but unfortunately it had in the meantime 

 come under the notice of a stranger, to whom it was sold. 



SCOPS ASIO (L.) 

 Little Screech Owl. 



An accidental visitant. 



It is supposed that this owl, which is according to Audubon 

 (Orn. Biog.) a somewhat common North American species, 

 has occurred on two occasions in England, in the counties of 

 Yorkshire and Norfolk (Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, vol. i., 

 p. 44); but the bird's claim to a place on the British list is not 



Trans. Y.N. U., 1879 (pub. IS8O). Series B 



