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to be seldom seen in Asia Minor, as neither Dr. Kriiper nor Mr. Danford met with it there ; but 

 Canon Tristram obtained it in Palestine, where, he adds, it cannot be uncommon, as it is well 

 known to the Arabs of Jericho, and also near the Lake of Galilee, under the name of " Boomeh 

 abiad," or " White Owl." 



Von Heuglin says that it is found at all seasons of the year throughout North-east Africa, but 

 is more numerous in the mountains of Habesch and the primeval forest than in Egypt and Nubia. 

 In Algeria it is said by Loche to be common ; and this is confirmed by Mr. L. Taczanowski, who 

 adds that those he saw had the underparts white. Favier [fide Colonel Irby, Orn. Str. Gibr- 

 p. 56) writes: — "This Owl, resident near Tangier, is nearly as abundant as the Little Owl, 

 inhabiting ruins and holes in rocks, and nesting twice a year, between April and November. 

 They lay from three to four eggs. The inhabitants of Tangier consider this bird the clairvoyant 

 friend of the Devil. The Jews believe that their cry causes the death of young children ; so, in 

 order to prevent this, they pour a vessel of water out into the courtyard every time that they 

 hear the cry of one of these Owls passing over their house. The Arabs believe even more than 

 the Jews ; for they think that they can cause all kinds of evil to old as well as to young ; but 

 their mode of action is even more simple than that of their antagonists the Jews, as they rest 

 contented with cursing them whenever they hear their cry. Endeavouring to find out from the 

 Mahometans what foundation there is for the evil reputation of this species, I was told this : — 

 ' When these birds cry, they are only cursing in their language ; but their malediction is harmless 

 unless they know the name of the individual to whom they wish evil, or unless they have the 

 malignity to point out that person when passing him ; as the Devil sleeps but little when there 

 is evil work to be done, he would infallibly execute the command of his favourite if one did not, 

 by cursing the Owl by name, thus guard against the power of that enemy who is sworn to do 

 evil to all living beings.' Having learned the belief of the Mahometans relative to this Owl, it 

 was more difficult to find out exactly that of the Jews, who when questioned by me knew not 

 how to answer, except that the act of pouring out water in the middle of the courtyard is a 

 custom of long standing in order to avert the evil which the Owl is capable of doing ; that is to 

 say, the water is poured out with a view of attracting the Evil Spirit's attention to an object 

 which distracts him, and so hides from him the infant which the Owl in its wickedness wishes to 

 show him." 



It inhabits the Azores, Madeira, and the Canaries. Mr. Godman says (Ibis, 1866, p. 94) 

 that in the Azores it is " occasionally met with in the eastern and central groups. In Flores and 

 Corvo I did not find any one who either knew the bird or the Portuguese name for it ; hence I 

 conclude it does not extend to the outer islands. Several people in St. Michael's and Terceira 

 told me they had seen it ; but I was unable to procure a specimen. The captain of a whaling- 

 vessel told me that one flew on board his ship when about 500 miles south-west of the Azores. 

 It was much exhausted ; but he kept it alive on salt pork for three or four days." According to 

 Dr. C. Bolle it inhabits all the Canarian islands, and he frequently saw it when traversing the 

 rocky paths of the Barrancos at dusk. It is commoner in the lower regions than in the more 

 elevated portions of the islands ; and not far from Chasna there is a rock called " Pisco de la 

 Coruja" (Owl Rock), where its cry can be heard any night. Specimens from the Azores and 

 Canaries are darker-coloured than continental specimens, but otherwise they do not differ. In 



