56 CLARKE : THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



great black-backed gull,' was seen in a turnip field. The man 

 who saw it went home instantly for his gun ; on his return, 

 however, the bird had disappeared. Otherwise I might possibly 

 have added Siirnia nyctea to the avifauna of Flamborough." 



In Land and Water for December 27th, 1879, Mr. Edward 

 Thompson, in some Scarborough notes, mentions a Snowy Owl as 

 having been seen near that town, and an unsuccessful attempt 

 made to shoot it. On communicating with Mr. Thompson I 

 learnt that the bird frequented the New Park during the month 

 of December and was frequently seen. 



ALUCO FLAMMEUS (L.) 

 Barn Owl. 



A resident. 



This, the most generally distributed of the owls in York- 

 shire, whilst found in a lesser or greater degree of abundance in 

 all districts, appears to be more numerous in the southern 

 portion of the county than elsewhere; and it seems to me 

 probable that its numbers are increased by an immigration of 

 either a partial nature from more northern British localities, or 

 from the European continent, for there are instances of the 

 species occasionally occurring in unusual numbers during the later 

 months of the year. Though not the most numerous, this is the 

 best known of all the owls, probably from the fact of its taking 

 up its abode in close proximity to the haunts of man and 

 frequenting the towers of churches, whence it has acquired a kind 

 of ghostly fame. I am glad to say that many of my numerous 

 correspondents allude to its receiving protection from the farmers ; 

 and now that this class has learned to appreciate the services 

 rendered by this bird, it is to be hoped that before many more 

 years the game preserver may be as fully alive to the equally 



Trans. y.N.U., 1879 (pub. 1880). Series B 



