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I often watched them flying in short bow-shaped flights from tree to tree at the Nikolajefsk 

 post ; and they have also settled close to me. It is fond of frequenting the willow bushes in low 

 swampy islands of the Amoor ; and in such places I procured it on the 6th of February at the 

 Nikolajefsk post, and M. Maximowicz in December at Kidsi." Dr. von Schrenck further states 

 that specimens in the Petersburg Museum from the Amoor, Kamtschatka, Iakutsk, Wilni, and 

 the neighbourhood of Petersburg agree precisely ; and we are informed likewise by Mr. Gurney 

 that the Norwich Museum contains a specimen from the Sea of Ochotsk which is the same as 

 the European bird. Dr. Radde found almost fledged young near the Kulamanda post on the 

 20th of May 1857. 



Our friend Mr. Robert Collett writes to us respecting this Owl in Norway as follows : — 

 " Doubtless this species has one of the most extensive ranges of any of the Strigidee ; but it 

 occurs nowhere abundantly, except when the Lemmings (Myocles lemmus) appear during their 

 migrations in unusual numbers. Although its true home appears to be in the conifer woods, 

 especially in the southern part of our country, it occurs during its annual wanderings in 

 autumn and winter in the west, where the conifer trees are almost wanting, and in the low lands 

 of the south. It is more abundant in Finmark than on the Dovre, and wanders all over the 

 subalpine lowlands ; on the southern fells it occurs up into the birch region. During the 

 breeding-season it extends southwards to 59° N. lat. In some seasons it may often be observed 

 flying over the open places in the woods hunting after prey, or sitting on the top of a tree 

 straight upright like a Hawk, not caring in the least for the bright sunshine. It is often 

 mobbed by Titmice, Jays, and small birds, which fly shrieking round it ; but it appears to take 

 but little notice of them, though it will occasionally dash like a Hawk into the middle of the 

 flock and seize one of the noisy intruders. In the autumn, when it approaches dwelling-houses, 

 it brings consternation amongst the Magpies, who collect round it and mob it, uttering loud cries. 



" The eggs are always deposited in a hollow tree, either on the rotten wood or on a scanty bed 

 of dried grass ; and the bird commences to sit immediately after depositing the first egg ; therefore 

 the young are hatched in succession at short intervals. The breeding-season appears to differ ; 

 from what cause I cannot say ; and I have found nests on the following dates — viz. on the 24th 

 of May 1866 a nest in a hollow aspen tree containing four tolerably well-grown young, on the 

 5th of June 1866 a nest containing six young, also half-grown. On the 18th of June 1862 a 

 nest was found in Valders on the top of a broken pine tree {Pinus sylvestris) containing two 

 small young and three eggs not yet hatched out. In the same tree, about a couple of yards 

 below the Owl's nest, was the nest of a Golden-eye (Fuligula clangula) containing eight eggs ; 

 and it is curious that Wolley found a similar instance in Lapland. On the same day (the 18th 

 of June 1862) another nest was found in the same locality containing fully fledged young. That 

 year the Lemmings were found migrating through that part of the country." 



Mr. Wheelwright, in his ' Spring and Summer in Lapland,' gives the following account of 

 the present species: — "The Hawk Owl was by far the commonest Owl in this district; and 

 although, of course, like the rest of the tribe, the Lemming forms its principal food when they 

 are ' in season,' I don't believe this bird migrates much, but remains stationary in the same 

 district throughout the year.. It is true, however, that in the winter we occasionally kill an old 

 example, both old birds and birds of the year, as far south as Wermland ; but I do not think, 



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