351 



heard when close to the bird. Sometimes, however, it calls hy hy hy ho. These notes are 

 generally heard late in the evenings and at early dawn. In the spring, when in the early morning 

 one goes out to shoot Capercailzie, this Owl may be heard sometimes before it is light enough to 

 see. By imitating its call the bird may be decoyed within range ; but it flies so silently and 

 settles down on a branch so quietly, that it often comes first to the one side and then to the 

 other before one can see it. As soon as it gets light this bird becomes silent, and is therefore 

 crepuscular. The male in particular can easily be called, and by a practised person it may 

 sometimes be got to follow a couple of thousand yards, or even to the house; thus a forester 

 twice decoyed males to his home, and shot them from his own door. 



" In the middle of the summer it is seldom seen, but in the late autumn, when it becomes 

 cold, can be oftener observed. It then comes to dwelling-houses ; and a couple of specimens were 

 shot at the buildings of the ironworks of Finspong. It sits on the top of a tree or some other 

 elevated perch, even in the middle of the day, during the full sunshine. Probably it is hunger 

 that makes it so bold that it will sometimes follow Sparrows into the very porch. Otherwise 

 Mice and Lemmings form its food ; and I have found remains of Bats in its stomach. It is not at 

 all shy, and one can generally get easily within gunshot ; and both this and Tengmalm's Owl have 

 been knocked over with a stick. It is said that it has been taken alive at Stockholm. 



" This Owl has not been observed to undertake wanderings in the autumn like several other 

 species (Strix nyctea, S. nisoria, S. tengmalmi) ; nor has it been observed to fly into holes in barns 

 or other buildings, but nests in hollow trees. In May, 1850, a nest was found in a hollow spruce 

 in a wood near Stens Ironworks. The female was caught on her eggs, five in number. These 

 were dull white, and large in proportion to the bird; in length they measured 1*01, width "78, 

 down to "97 in length by - 08. In confinement the female was well and lively for a couple 

 of days, would raise its ear-feathers, which measure a quarter of an inch long, ate heartily, 

 but on the third day very quiet, and died on the fourth. Interference with its incubation was 

 probably the cause of its death. I should say that it cannot reproduce before it is more than a 

 year old, as young males shot in March have the testicles scarcely discernible, whereas older 

 birds at the same season have them very large. These young males are somewhat smaller than 

 the old ones, and may be recognized by their brownish colour, which more resembles that of the 

 female, whereas the old males are more ashy blue in colour. During several years I have been 

 here I have seen about 100 birds of this Owl shot, most of them from the woods near Finspong's 

 ironworks." 



The following capital account was contributed to Dr. Bree's ' Birds of Europe ' by the late 

 Mr. H. C. Wheelwright in a letter dated Gardsjo, March, 1863 : — 



" I have been in the forest lately, and found out more about this little Owl. It certainly 

 breeds with us, and not sparingly, and I do hope to get you the nest this year. I have a live one 

 now in a cage ; and a most amusing pet it is. Although diurnal in its habits, it seems to sit very 

 still until evening and very early morning. As far as I can make out, this is the earliest bird in 

 our forests ; for the old poachers who go out before daybreak to shoot the Capercailzie on the 

 perch in the spring say that the first call-note they hear in the wood is this bird. They also say 

 that as soon as they hear this in the spring they reckon it will not be long before the Capercailzie 

 begins to ' lek ' or play. 



n2 



