360 



has received different common names, such as Steen-uil (Stone-Owl), Kat-uil (Cat Owl), Boom-uil 

 (Tree-Owl), and others. 



" The male is smaller and more distinctly spotted, and generally of a darker colour, than the 

 female ; the sexes may easily be distinguished in life by careful observation. I have skinned 

 many a one, and always found the females larger, especially as regards the bill ; the head is also 

 a little flatter, and the whole bearing of the bird more bold and intrusive. All the females of 

 this species are very plucky, while the males are much more shy and retiring. I never used a 

 male bird as a decoy for catching small birds, because it will not sit quietly on its perch, but 

 always tries to hide somewhere. Females, also, will occasionally utter their barking note and 

 attract birds to their vicinity, whereas the voice of the male is seldom heard, at least when in 

 captivity. They do not seem to drink much, as I have had them in a cage for more than a year 

 without giving them any water. Indeed it is a curious fact that when they get wet, either by 

 heavy rain or by being placed in a damp spot, they have fits and remain insensible for hours, 

 and sometimes it causes their death. I had one once which I had placed on a boat near the 

 bank while I was catching birds. The Owl saw its image reflected in the water and jumped in; 

 and although I took it out immediately it was quite insensible, and to all appearance dead. 

 Much regretting its loss, I put it into my pocket and carried it about for two hours, and on 

 reaching home threw it down in a corner of the room. Hearing a noise in the house in the 

 middle of the night, I went down, and to my great delight found my Owl jumping about on the 

 table. I have always used the Little Owl as a decoy for catching the smaller kinds of singing- 

 birds with great success ; and by placing him in an exposed place with plenty of limed twigs 

 round, I have sometimes caught as many as sixty birds in one day." 



Count Salvadori also informs us that " it is very much used in Central Italy by sportsmen as 

 a decoy for Larks, which it attracts within range of the gun, or for small song-birds, which con- 

 gregate in numbers to witness its grotesque attitudes and to hear its mimicry ; thus they are 

 easily snared on limed twigs. For this purpose the Owls undergo a special training." 



Lord Lilford has kindly sent us the accompanying observations : — 



" The Little Owl is tolerably common in many parts of Spain ; and I have seen it in Pied- 

 mont, Sicily, Epirus, and Corfu, but never in such abundance as in the island of Sardinia, where 

 on one occasion, having fired both barrels at a covey of Partridges (Caccabis petrosa), at least a 

 dozen of these Little Owls suddenly appeared from among some large boulder-stones ; and each 

 taking up a position on a rock or bush within a short distance, went through a series of bows 

 and contortions which were irresistibly absurd. This happened near Pula, in the southern 

 division of the island. I found it common in Minorca, in October 1856, haunting stony ravines 

 near the sea." 



Mr. Pobson's notes are as follows : — 



" This little Owl is very numerous in Turkey in Europe and Asia Minor, and is, indeed, the 

 most numerous of the Owl tribe found here. It breeds frequently in the midst of populated 

 towns and villages, and also in holes where pieces of wood are detached from the sides of houses, 

 between the clay inner lining of walls and the thin outer deal frontage. It also builds in the 

 holes of deserted well-shafts, and it is found in nearly every homestead, large building, or old 

 ruin throughout the country; it likewise nests in clefts of rock and holes of trees, but seems most 



