NestiufT of Jardiiic's Picrmy Owl. 
of the usual type, round, wliitc, and rather large. The hen 
sal \cry closely, attended by her mate, who guarded Iier with 
great devotion, flying tiercely at intruders, and doing his utmost 
to drive them away. On May 8th tlie first egg shells were 
thrown out and a young liird could lie heard twittering. Both 
parents remained in the nest-box, the cock only leaving to 
carry up food. Another nestling hat(-hed on the 9th, and the 
third on the i ith. 
When first hatched they arc tiny creatures, covered 
with snowy white down, and, unlike their parents, are very 
vociferous. The first few days of their li\es they are continu- 
ally brooded by their mother, but later could plainly be seen 
sitting beside her in the l)o\. How they retained their white- 
ness is a puzzle, for all food lies about on the floor of their 
nursery until consumed and they sciuat among it. Mice, spar- 
rows, and kittens, were readily accepted by the old birds as 
suitable food for the babies but at first they refused young 
chickens and even a young thrush, which I supposed would 
be just the thing. 
Two young were fully reared and are now (August) 
nearly as large as their parents. The third disappeared when 
a few days old. When they left the nest they were fully 
feathered and paler editions of the old birds, the white 
greyer and the brown less rufous. They were shy and hid 
in the recesses of the nesting-box, but are gradually gaining 
confidence. Unlike their parents they still twitter over their 
food, though they feed themselves entirely and are to all intents 
and purposes adult. 
It is doubtful if these Owls' have ever before been bred 
in confinement, certainly it is for the first tiine in the United 
Kingdom. 
The colouration of the parent birds is brighter, rufous- 
brown on the back and white streaked with chestnut in front. 
These midgets are my special weakness and are fasciriating 
creatures. 
