201 



STEIX PUSILLA. Baud. 



Strix passerina, Likn^us. 



Vol. I, Page 124. 



I HAVE given a full history of this bird in the first 

 volume, and also a figure of the best and most 

 authentic specimen which I could then obtain. Since 

 that time Mr. Wheelwright has very kindly brought 

 under my notice its Swedish form, and as it difi'ers 

 materially in colour from that which I have figured, I 

 now give drawings from an adult and young bird which 

 that gentleman has sent me. I also add the following 

 to the history of this interesting species, contained in 

 a letter from Mr. Wheelwright, dated Gardsjo, March, 

 1863: — "I have been in the forest lately, and found 

 out more about this little Owl. It certainly breeds with 

 us, and not sparingly, and I do hope to get you the 

 nest this year. I have a live one now in a cage, and 

 a most amusing pet it is. Although diurnal in its habits, 

 it seems to sit very still until evening and very early 

 morning. As far as I can make out this is the earliest 

 bird in our forests; for the old poachers who go out 

 before daybreak to shoot the Capercally on the perch 

 in the spring, say that the first call-note they hear in 

 the wood is this bird. They also say that as soon as 

 they hear this in the spring they reckon it will not 

 be long before the Capercally begins to 'lek' or play. 



