tengmalm's owl. 151 



repeated cook ; and during the breeding season a pleasing 

 piping call of cuk, cuk, winch is kept up for several minutes 

 at a time. 



These Owls are said to breed in a hole in a tree, and to 

 construct no manner of nest. The egg numbered 30 belongs 

 to this species. 



Whether its great resemblance to the last-mentioned Owl, 

 or some other reason can be given for the unfrequent capture 

 or notice of this bird, is difficult to say ; but, although it has 

 been obtained in almost every part of Europe, the collectors 

 find it difficult to procure specimens for naturalists. 



The Tengmalm's Owl is never met with in buildings of 

 any kind, but frequents either thick pine forests, among the 

 low foliage, or perches in an old stem of a tree, or in a hole 

 in a tree ; also, in extensive orchards, pollard trees and juniper 

 trees are a favourite hiding-place with it, as well as with other 

 Owls. Its food consists chiefly in mice of all sorts, small 

 birds, and insects, which are obtained during the night season 

 only, and before sunrise these birds return again to their 

 hiding-places : they eat but little at a time, and never swab 

 low their prey whole. 



