119*22.] Feeding Habits of the Little Owl. 1023 



long confinement Vt seven o'clock in the evening, 



the weather being serene and warm, I opened the door of the 

 cage. The five owis stepped out to try their fortune in this 

 wicked world." 



While we have no proof that these specimens actually 

 established a colony, there is every likelihood that the birds 

 wandered away and nested. 



The late Lord Lilford (15) at various times previous to 

 1889 liberated specimens at Lilford, near Oundle, Northamp- 

 tonshire, and Mr. E. G. B. Meade-Waldo introduced specimens 

 at Stonewall Park near Edenbridge, Kent, about 1874. Both 

 of these introductions were successful. Finally, about 1890. 

 and again in 1905, Mr. W. H. St. Quintin turned out some 

 specimens at Scampston Hall, Killington, Yorkshire, " but 

 they did not do well, and have now apparently disappeared 

 (15), as also specimens released at Tring by Lord Rothschild. 



From these various centres the Little Owl has spread all 

 over the country, having been recorded from no fewer than 

 36 English counties, 6 Welsh, 2 Scotch, and 1 Irish. 



This bird has undoubtedly proved a most successful colonist, 

 for it has not only spread itself over the whole of the country, 

 but it has increased in a remarkable manner. 



Field Investigations. — In an investigation of this kind it is 

 very important that the evidence from all quarters should be 

 carefully considered before arriving at any conclusions. In 

 this connection, therefore, observations made in the field are 

 very desirable. It is important, however, that such observa- 

 tions, if they are to be of any value, should be made by those 

 who know the Little Owl and are not liable to confuse it with 

 other snecies, which is not infrequently the case. 



Abundance. — There is now considerable evidence to show that 

 the Little Owl is fairly abundant in most parts of England, and 

 that it is slowly spreading to Wales and further north into 

 Scotland. It is said to be " By far the commonest owl in 

 Bedfordshire as many as 20 being seen together in small 

 spinneys, and is recorded as ; ' very common " in Hertford, 

 " Fairly common and plentiful " in Leicester, Northampton, 

 Kent, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Wilts., " Becoming 

 numerous " in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Herts., " Have 

 greatly increased since 1914 " in Sussex and Essex. A corre- 

 spondent writes from Suffolk that during 19,20 there were twice 

 as many as in 1919. Another" states that on one estate in 



* Atchison, G .T., Brit. Birds, 1912, p. 66. 



