359 



the back than the males, and the young birds are frequently so russet that it would be easy to 

 confuse them at a first glance with the North-African species." It occurs in Portugal. Lord 

 Lilford has also observed it in Minorca. 



The same nobleman, in his paper on Birds observed in the Ionian Islands, says : — " I believe 

 this species to be a summer visitor to Epirus. We found it nesting in the ruins of Nicopolis in 

 March 1857, and at Santa Quaranta in May. It is rare in Corfu." 



Lindermayer states : — 



" According to my experience it is numerous all over Greece, even on the Cyclades, where 

 Erhardt found it at all seasons. Wherever it is found it is a resident, and loves the towns which 

 have been inhabited by Turks, as, for instance, Kalkis, on the island of Eubcea, Lamia, Mistra, 

 Athens, &c, probably because the ruins of Turkish buildings afford more shelter than the 

 plain stone walls of the Greek houses, and because in these ruins they are less disturbed than 

 elsewhere." 



Mr. Strickland gives it as common in the Levant, adding that the Smyrna specimens were 

 examined by the late Prince Bonaparte, and were found to be true A. noctua. 



Mr. H. J. Elwes writes : — " I found this the commonest Owl in Turkey, where nearly all 

 the churches and ruins are tenanted by a pair." Mr. Robson, in a note given below, confirms 

 the statements of the above-mentioned authors as regards its abundance in Turkey and Asia 

 Minor. 



Von Nordmann observes as follows : — 



" Very common in all parts of New Russia throughout the year. It nests in clefts in the 

 rocks and under stoneheaps in the town of Odessa. It hunts after prey during the daytime. It 

 is equally common in Bessarabia and the Crimea." Mr. Elwes also writes : — " In the Crimea I 

 saw them frequently in the ravines and quarries near Sevastopol." 



Dr. Radde obtained a specimen on the rocky shores of the Onon, in Eastern Siberia; and 

 this we imagine to be the furthest eastern range recorded for the present bird that can be depended 

 upon. We believe that the geographical distribution of Athene noctua, as detailed by us, can 

 be thoroughly relied on. The corresponding ranges of Athene meridionalis, and the points where 

 the two species inosculate, will require careful investigation on the part of future observers. 



We are indebted to Mr. J. G. Keulemans for the following account of its habits : — 



" The Little Owl is very abundant all over Holland, especially in those localities where 

 meadows with large bushes are found. In such places one sees extensive farm-yards, which 

 generally have an orchard at their back. These the Little Owl appears to frequent by pre- 

 ference, and seldom do such spots remain untenanted by these small birds of prey. I have often 

 seen as many as six within an hour at different spots, so common are they. They are more often 

 seen about the hour of twilight during the months of September, October, and November, when 

 migrating birds visit the country.. They are frequently observed to fly long distances in the open 

 fields in the daytime, rarely, however, without being pursued by a swarm of clamorous Starlings, 

 House-sparrows, or even Crows and Magpies. Swallows also exhibit great aversion to this Owl ; 

 for no sooner do they spy one than a multitude assemble and fly round about it, chasing it from 

 one spot to another. 



" In Holland the bird is universally well known, and from its occurrence in many districts 



2b 



