BDBO. CARINE. 135 



Distribution in the British Islands. — An ' Occasional Visitor. 

 Specimens have beon taken in the Shetland and Orkney 

 Islands, Argyllshire, and in many counties of England. 

 It is possible that some o£ those recorded may have escaped 

 from captivity. 



General Distribution. — The Eagle-Owl inhabits the moun- 

 tain-forests of Europe, from Scandinavia, Lapland, and north 

 Russia to the Mediterranean. In Spain, south-east Russiii, 

 and Asia Minor slightly different races have been recognised ; 

 while eastwards in Asia a number of more or less distinct 

 forms are found. In north Africa B. ascalaphus is the 

 representative species. 



Genus CARINE Kaap, Naturl. Syst. 1829, p. 29. 

 Type : C. noctua (Scop.). 



Carine = Kapivri, a Carian woman, especially one hired to sing Carian dirgea 

 or funeral songs, in allusion presumably to the mournful note of this Owl, 



Carine noctua. Little Owl. 



Strix noctua Scopoli, Ann. i. Hist. Nat. 1769, p. 22 : 



Carniola. 



Carine noctua (Scop.) ; Sharpe, Gat. Birds B. M. ii. 1875, p. 133. 

 Athene noctua B. O. U. List, 1st ed. 1883, p. 91 ; Saunders, 

 Manual, 2nd ed. 1899, p. 301. 



Noctua=oi the night. 



Distribution in the British Islands. — Originally, no doubt, 

 a Rare Visitor, but now a Resident. Many have been intro- 

 duced since 1843, when Waterton first turned out five in 

 Yorkshire, and the bird lias now spread over the greater 

 part of England. Specimens recorded from north Wales, 

 Scotland, and Ireland may have escaped from captivity. 



General Distribution. — The Little Owl inhabits central 

 Europe, ranging from Denmark, and Courland in Russia, 

 southwards to the Mediterranean. It is accidental in 

 southern Sweden and Heligoland. In Spain, Sardinia, and 

 south-east Europe slightly different races have been dis- 

 tinguished, as well as in north Africa and western Asia, 



