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It replaces Athene noctua in the extreme southern and the south-eastern portions of the Western 

 Palsearctic Region, and is found to the eastward into Afghanistan. In the countries north of the 

 Mediterranean it is of extremely rare occurrence, if found at all. M. A. Lacroix certainly states 

 that it occurs on passage in the Eastern Pyrenees, appearing to come from Spain ; I cannot but 

 think, however, that he does not refer to the true Athene glaux, but probably to a slightly lighter 

 variety of Athene noctua. I possess examples from Greece and Turkey which are clearly referable 

 to Athene noctua, being undistinguishable from Spanish specimens. Strickland also states that 

 the Little Owl which is found near Smyrna is Athene noctua. In Palestine, however, the present 

 species is met with, and is, Canon Tristram writes (Ibis, 1865, p. 261), " one of the commonest 

 and most universally distributed birds in every part of the Holy Land. In the olive-yards round 

 the villages, in the rocks of the wadys, in the thickets by the water-side, in the tombs or on the 

 ruins, among the desolate heaps which mark the sites of ancient Judah, on the sandy mounds of 

 Beersheba, or on the spray-beaten fragments of Tyre, his low wailing note is sure to be heard at 

 sunset, and himself seen bowing and keeping time to his own music. The Little Owl is a great 

 favourite: he is lucky; and there is a strong prejudice against injuring him, which may partly 

 account for his exceptional numbers. It breeds early ; but as I have had nestlings brought to me 

 in May, it is possible it sometimes rears a second family. When disturbed it disappears with 

 magical celerity into a hollow tree, or hole in the ground, or the rocks, as the case may be." 

 According to Mr. Wyatt it is somewhat scarce in the peninsula of Sinai ; but in North-east Africa 

 this Owl is very numerous and resident. Captain Shelley says (I. c.) that it is found in Egypt 

 and Nubia, where it frequents both trees and rocks, and is very partial to the small clumps which 

 surround the water-wheels so abundant in Egypt ; and Von Heuglin says that it is " resident in 

 Egypt, Nubia, and Arabia, but does not appear to occur further south than 14° N. lat. It 

 inhabits houses, walls, ruins, stone-heaps, and old tombs ; for he frequently met with it in 

 cemeteries, and even in acacia-groves and date-bushes. It is generally seen in families or pairs, 

 and often in broad daylight, when the sun is shining brightly, in towns and villages. It is by 

 no means shy, and is droll and amusing in its motions. Hartmann met with it in Sennaar. In 

 Lower Egypt it breeds in March, but probably raises two broods, as Von Heuglin found unfledged 

 young at midsummer. In Algeria, according to Loche, it is found in all the provinces; and 

 M. Malherbe received several examples from Bone ; but Colonel Irby says (/. c.) that it does not 

 appear to occur in the immediate vicinity of Tangier, and that the only specimen he saw was 

 obtained three or four days' journey on the way to Fez. 



To the eastward the present species is found as far as India ; and Mr. Blanford says that it 

 is " common on the Persian highlands, keeping mostly to rocks, especially masses of rock isolated 

 in a plain, or to the ruined buildings of unbaked brick, which are so common throughout Persia. 

 It lives in holes during the day, and may often be seen in the early morning and in the evening 

 sitting upon rocks or walls. It is rather gregarious, five or six being often seen together, and, 

 like others of the genus, is much more diurnal than most Owls in its habits." Mr. Blyth states 

 that it is common in Afghanistan ; and Mr. A. O. Hume (Rough Notes, ii. p. 408) says that he 

 has seen two specimens shot in the Peshawar valley and two others from Afghanistan, and adds 

 that he believes it occurs in India as a mere straggler, and only on the extreme north-western 

 frontier. 



