STRIGIDA. 299 
TENGMALM’S OWL. 
NycraLa TENGMALMI (J. F. Gmelin). 
This small Owl, with thick and downy plumage, is an inhabitant 
of northern or elevated forest-regions, whence it migrates in severe 
weather ; and, at long intervals, it has wandered to Great Britain in 
autumn and winter, as well as in spring, presumably on its return 
northwards. Since the beginning of this century about twenty 
examples have been taken in~England—chiefly in Northumber- 
land, Yorkshire, Norfolk and Suffolk ; specimens have, however, 
been obtained as far south as Kent and Somerset (though a so- 
called Sussex example proved to be a Little Owl); also in Shrop- 
shire (once) ; near Preston in Lancashire (once) ; and in Cumber- 
land on November 3rd 1876. In Scotland one was captured alive 
in December 1860 on Cramond Island, Firth of Forth ; and an 
adult female was recorded from the vicinity of Peterhead on 
February 3rd 1886. As yet there is no record from Ireland. 
On Heligoland Tengmalm’s Owl has occurred about thirty times 
in fifty years. It inhabits Scandinavia, Lapland, Finland and 
Russia, almost up to the northern limit of the forests; while its 
southern breeding-range in the latter country coincides with the 
growth of Pixus sylvestris, and reaches as far as Saratov and Oren- 
burg. In winter its migrations extend to Guriev, where the Ural 
River empties into the Caspian ; but Dr. Menzbier does not believe 
in its asserted existence in the Crimea. It breeds in the higher 
