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rabbits, as a temporary supply of food ; and at 7 o'clock in tbe evening, the weather being serene 

 and warm, I opened the door of the cage. The five Owls stepped out to try their fortunes in 

 this wicked world. As they retired into the adjacent thicket, I bade them be of good heart; 

 and although the whole world was now open to them ' where to choose their place of residence,' 

 I said, if they would stop in my park, I would be glad of their company, and would always be a 

 friend and benefactor to them." 



The present species commences to hunt after food as soon as the daylight disappears, and 

 will often continue throughout the whole day. It feeds chiefly on mice, but it often surprises 

 small birds on their roosting-perches, or catches bats. Naumann states that it preys also on 

 beetles. It often visits snares that have been placed to catch small birds, and takes possession of 

 any that may have been caught. 



Herr von Homey er writes to us as follows: — 



" This Owl is half diurnal, and much more so than naturalists have considered it to be. I 

 have seen it at midday, when the sun was shining brightly, pounce down amongst a flock of 

 Sparrows (Passer domesticus) and carry one off to its young. It also catches maybugs (Melo- 

 lontha vulgaris) on the wing with great dexterity." 



We are informed by Mr. Keulemans that the Little Owl feeds its young on caterpillars, 

 moths, beetles, young birds, mice, and sometimes frogs. He has found the remains of frogs in 

 the nest-hole where four young ones were hatched. 



As regards its note, Mr. Howard Saunders writes to us as follows : — 



"Although from its note this species, as well as Ephialtes scops, is often called ' Gn-cu' in 

 Spain, yet the two can easily be distinguished. The former dwells on each syllable, repeating 

 them at regular intervals by the hour together, whilst the latter utters them sharply and almost 

 together. Athene noctua also mews like a cat ; and one night when lying out in the Coto del 

 Key, miles from any habitation, I had yet some difficulty in persuading myself that the noise 

 did not proceed from feline lungs ; but the bird was obliging enough to pass close over my head, 

 and so settle the question." 



Mr. Elwes says, " Early in the afternoon they come out and make a curious squeaking noise, 

 as they sit on the roof of a house. The flight is slow and very undulating, with heavy flaps of 

 the wing, like that of a Woodpecker." 



Dr. Lindermayer observes, " Their mournful call may be heard deep into the night, and may 

 be best expressed by its Greek name Koukouwai. 



" This bird is the one that is represented as sitting by the Goddess Minerva, and has, since 

 the foundation of New Athens, been included in the arms of the town. In the Munich Museum 

 there is a specimen which was presented to the young King Otto, on his first arrival at Athens, 

 by the citizens as a token." 



The following account of its nesting-habits was contributed to Mr. Hewitson's work on 

 British Birds' eggs by the late Mr. Hoy : — 



" The Little Owl is, like the rest of the family, an early breeder. It not unfrequently 

 makes its nest in the holes of trees; old ruins, however, and the towers of churches are its 

 favourite resort. It appears to be of a quarrelsome disposition, two pairs being rarely met with 

 as near neighbours during the breeding-season. The eggs are usually four, sometimes five, in 



