OF NORTHTJMBEELAlirD AND DITEHAM. 21 



a living individual, wliicli was taken at Widdrington, JS'orthum- 

 berland. It lived for some time, and ultimately escaped. I fed 

 it upon mice and pieces of flesh. 



The example taken at "Widdrington, in 1812 or 1813, and 

 figured by both. Bewick and Selby as Strix passerina, is Nyctale 

 Tengmalmi. I have seen the specimen in Selby' s collection, and 

 there can be no doubt about the species. Selby corrects the 

 mistake in his catalogaie. 



15. SYRNIIBI, Savigmj. 



22. Tawnt Owl. S. axuco {Lmnceu&.) 



Strix aluco, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Biixls, Ed. 1847, I., 65. 

 „ YarreU, Hist. Brit. Biixls, Ed. 4, I., 146. 



A common resident, fi'equentiag woods. It breeds in trees, 

 choosing those covered with ivy. A curious exception to this 

 habit occurred to Mr. Thomas Thompson ; he took a nest of it a 

 few years ago, with three eggs, in a rabbit hole at Rowland's 

 Grill, near Gibside. 



This species preys chiefly on the smaller mammals, and fre- 

 quents stack-garths for the purpose, and is consequently a valua- 

 ble ally to the farmer : notwithstanding, the Tawny Owl is 

 constantly seen nailed up in the gamekeeper's museum. 



16. STRIX, Linnmis. 



23. Bahn Owl, Steix plammea, Zinnmis. 



Strix flammea, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, I. 57. 

 Aluco ,, YarreU, Hist. Brit. Bii-ds, Ed. 4, I., 194. 



A common resident species, but gradually diminishiag m num- 

 bers like other birds of prey, and from the same cause. It feeds 

 chiefly on rats and mice, and is consequently of great service to 

 the agriculturist. 



I have a remarkable variety of this species, which was shot in 

 the district a few years ago. The whole of the under parts, 

 which are usually white, are of a full tawny colour, as are the 



