NOTES AND QUEBIES. 313 



their monotonous creaking cry, and the one near the ground became 

 much more lively, climbing clumsily among the branches, but, so far 

 as I could see, not using its beak to help it in so doing. The old bird 

 frequently came into the tree just above where I was standing near the 

 young one, calling loudly, and obviously resenting my presence. 

 Whether the young bird had left the nest voluntarily or had fallen out, 

 the old one was evidently looking after it, and was no doubt feeding it 

 as well as the one in the nesfc. The facial disc of the young bird was 

 black ; primaries blackish brown ; iris deep yellow. 



" Pellets gathered at the foot of the nesting tree yielded skulls of 

 Field- Vole, Wood-Mouse — no Shrews — Buntings, Finches, and a soft- 

 billed bird, apparently a Eobin or a Hedge- Sparrow." — Charles 

 Oldham (Knutsford). 



Sounds produced by Owls. — I am interested in this subject, and, 

 without occupying too much space of your valuable and dear old Maga, 

 I shortly desire to say I can corroborate almost every word written by 

 your correspondent, Mr. C. H. Bryant, as regards each of the species 

 mentioned (ante, p. 265), though, just as different people's appreciations 

 of sounds differ, I might use other terms to express these several 

 sounds. That, however, seems to me a "science" not reduced to 

 School Board level yet, and as one still leaving some blessed opening 

 for originality. I cannot, however, speak to the " snoring" sound of 

 old Barn-Owls. The " kee-yak" I have often heard the old Barn-Owl 

 give voice to, within twelve inches of my ear. At that time, and on these 

 occasions, he had perched on the outside sill of my bedroom window, 

 and invariably it denoted a ghastly triumph, because in his claws he 

 held a still writhing or palpitating "small deer," usually a Field- 

 Mouse. I cannot affirm that the " kee-yak " regularly issues from the 

 Tawny's throat, but, unless I was greatly deceived, I several times 

 believed that such a sound emanated from a much bigger Owl — the 

 Eagle-Owl — only different in pitch a little — which birds I kept in con- 

 finement for a term of years ; at least his bill was open when I heard 

 the weird shriek, and there was no " boom " in it. But perhaps Mr. 

 Gurney might enlighten me on that point ; to him I was indebted for 

 one of the two birds I had — a small male. The hen was taken from 

 the nest in Norway in 1871. I believe the latter may still be alive at 

 Dalnaglas, Glen Shee ; if so, I would be pleased to hear of her welfare. 

 J. A. Harvie-Brown (Dunipace, Larbert, Stirlingshire, N.B.). 



Rock-Doves (?) Nesting in Rabbits' Holes.— This is a common habit 

 of the Stock-Dove, which is not the parent form of our domestic "Doo," 

 as I believe the Piock-Dove — which usually nests in cairns both on the 

 Zool. 4th ser. vol. IX., August, 1905. 2 B 



