NOTES AND QUERIES. 231 



but the ebullition of superfluous energy, and I continue to feel that 

 this should be carried still further, and believe that song, and such 

 phenomena as ornamental plumes (not bright colours) and vernal 

 flights or dances, have no connection other than an indirect one with 

 sexual affairs. At least, this theory fits in with my own observations, 

 which is far more than I can say for the old theories that song is 

 primarily a phenomenon of sex. — Fredk. J. Stubbs. 



Syrnium aluco in Suffolk. — The Tawny Owls returned to our 

 church-tower this year for the seventh year in succession. Their 

 game-bag, however, was not so varied as that of last year (cf. Zool. 

 1912, p. 228), as I found no rats or moles in the nest — in fact, 

 nothing beyond a few small rabbits, some field-mice, and many 

 feathers of small birds. Three eggs were laid, one of which by some 

 means got broken in the nest, and, from the different size of the 

 two owlets, they were probably hatched from the first and third eggs 

 laid. Most troublesome and adventurous owlets they were, for one 

 Sunday morning there was much excitement in the churchyard just 

 before service, as both had fluttered down from the nest, and were 

 found under the tower. One boy suggested he should go for a cage, 

 but a worthy woman took them in charge, declaring that no one 

 should touch the Owls, and I put them back, making the exit rather 

 less easy. A little later they got out again, and the larger bird could 

 not be found ; the smaller one was on the ground under the tower, 

 drenched to the skin by heavy rain, and looking a most pitiful little 

 object. The parents had evidently not neglected it, for close by were 

 the remains of a young thrush and a dead toad, the latter not touched. 

 I put it back again, and visited the nest next day, quite expecting to 

 find it dead, but it was dry, clean, and perfectly well. It remained 

 for about a fortnight, and disappeared once more — this time, like the 

 historic dove of the Ark, it was not seen again. Certainly the erratic 

 behaviour of this pair of youngsters fully justified a remark lately 

 made to me: "It seems a wonder that any Owls get off at all," for 

 when they get out of the nest young Tawny Owls are completely at 

 the mercy of anyone who finds them. — Julian G. Tuck (Tostock 

 Kectory, Bury St. Edmunds). 



Greenland Falcon (Falco candicans) in Co. Mayo. — I have just 

 heard from my friend Captain Kirkwood, of Bartragh House, that on 

 Sunday, May 4th, as he was sitting in a sheltered nook of the sand- 

 hills, a lovely Greenland Falcon passed within ten yards over his 

 head, and fled on to the marsh where the Lapwings nest, among 

 which he caused great commotion, but, not having succeeded in 



