Birds. 563 



spruce fir-tree, on which, after flattening and sometimes lining with a few feathers, are 

 deposited its two or three beautifully white eggs. Out of six or seven instances, we 

 have never met with more than three eggs or young ones, and in most cases only two. 

 In some cases it must lay more freely, as Mr. Yarrell, in his beautiful work on British 

 birds, p. 118, states " the eggs to he four ox Jive in number." It is curious to observe 

 how flat they invariably make their nests, so much so, that in even a slight wind it is 

 difficult to conceive how the eggs retain their position, when the parent bird leaves 

 them. This species does not seem to confine its flight entirely to the darker hours, 

 nor its taste very strictly to the mouse tribe ; as we have met them in the woods sail- 

 ing quietly along (as if hawking) on a bright sunny day, and invariably found in or 

 around the nest, feathers and other remains of the winged race ; in one case a freshly 

 killed chaffinch, in another, the wing of a snipe, and several smaller birds, — and in a 

 pellet the indigestible pad of a young hare or rabbit. A nest which I examined this 

 day (April 1 1th) contained three eggs, which were laid on what appeared to have been 

 the drey of the squirrel, in a tall spruce fir. This nest was lined with a few feathers, 

 and only discovered on the 31st of March, and had then the same number of eggs. I 

 hope to ascertain when the young ones are hatched, and whether, as is I believe ge- 

 nerally the case with this tribe, the parent bird had commenced incubation when the 

 first egg was laid. I should feel much obliged if any of the numerous contributors to 

 * The Zoologist' could inform us whether this is a general law with the owls, and also 

 the number of days occupied in incubation, by this or any of the same tribe. — James 

 H. Tuke; Lawrence St., York, April 12, 1844. 



Note on Owls building in Trees. On looking over the last number of * The Zoolo- 

 gist,' I find an inquiry by Mr. Alfred Greenwood (Zool. 492) respecting a former com- 

 munication of mine (Id. 383). In reply I may state, that although I have not yet 

 climbed to an owl's nest myself, individuals who have done so have frequently seen 

 them, in this neighbourhood, in a situation similar to that in which Mr. Walker found 

 the nest of the heron. — R. Dick Duncan. 



Notes on the Passerine Owl. One principal charm of the country is the pleasing 

 effect produced upon the mind by the various rural sounds, amongst which there 

 is one so remarkable, and yet so agreeable, that I recommend attention to the little 

 animal which produces it for the sake of increasing the enjoyment of those who like 

 retirement. This singular and plaintive note is heard during the evening, and early 

 part of the night, throughout the spring and summer, commencing about sun-set, and 

 proceeds from the Strix Passerina, a British bird, now, I believe, very rarely found, 

 and which, with the exception of Strix Scops, is the smallest of our native owls. It 

 closely resembles the Strix Tengmalmi, being nearly the same size as that species and 

 chiefly differing from it in the legs not being much clothed, the feathers in S. Teng- 

 malmi covering the legs as entirely as in S. nyctea and other large species. There is 

 another point of interest too about these little birds, in the remarkable jump which is 

 peculiar to this species. All who are fond of Natural History must be familiar with 

 the delightful writings of Mr. Waterton; and in a paper of his which I read some 

 time ago (I think in one of the Magazines of the late lamented and excellent Mr. 

 Loudon), he has well described this strange movement, but I do not recollect that he 

 mentions the pleasing note of this species, which is equally characteristic and singu- 

 lar. A pair of these birds were in the pheasantry here for some years and none of the 

 feathered tribe can better reward the attention of those who take any interest in such 

 objects— John Thomas Brooks ; Flitwick House, March 30, 1844, 



