134 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
and again on the 30th, when it was very exhausted (EH. Fowler), 
and probably did not survive very long. 
DECEMBER. 
1st.—The Luminous Owl.—The luminous Barn-Owl, which, 
except for one appearance to Mr. Spencer in October, had not 
been seen since February, was again observed by Mr. R. J. Purdy, 
his son, and other persons, shining brightly in the same locality 
as before. 
15th.—Mr. Dye, in recording a Little Auk (ante, p. 114), 
expresses an opinion that there is no figure of this bird which 
shows a complete white occipital line. I have not seen his bird, 
but I give a drawing by Mr. Patterson of a Little Auk taken at 
Yarmouth six years ago, which shows this character very strongly. 
(See illustration on p. 133.) 
22nd.—Again the luminous Owl showed itself to Mr. Purdy, 
and between this date and the 29th it was seen by several 
people, and by many others subsequently. On the 29th its 
luminosity appears to have been at its maximum, the branches 
of trees being even lighted up as it flew amongst them. It 
was presently joined by a companion, also luminous, but not so 
bright as its mate, and I am assured by Mr. Purdy that on diffe- 
rent occasions one or other of them was seen in six contiguous 
parishes. The nightly rounds of a Barn-Owl, which are often 
much the same in line of flight, would not be expected to extend 
further than that under any circumstances. The light is de- 
scribed by those who saw it best as pale yellow with a reddish 
tinge; at its brightest it was about as brilliant as the light of 
a bicycle lamp some three or four hundred yards away, and 
that was what Mr. Purdy at first mistook it for. Anyhow, 
the light does not seem to have had the effect of giving warning 
to Rats and Mice, for Mr. Hamond’s bailiff saw it drop on one, 
and heard the little animal shriek. On one occasion the shining 
bird was quietly seated on a gate, and another time on the 
ground, having probably just dropped in pursuit of a Mouse. 
Those who saw it best agree that it was much brighter when 
coming towards the observer, and especially when rising in the 
air, but so much did the light pale as it flew away in the contrary 
direction that it is certain that little, if any, of the glow proceeded 
