244 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 
IV. Two Otters^ Lutra vulgaris, shot near Edinburgh^ were exhiMted, &c. 
By John Alexander Smith, M.D. 
Two full-grown otters, male and female, were sent for 
exhibition, at Dr Smith's request, by Mr James Carfrae, 
Princes Street. They were killed at one shot by a boy, 
near Coltbridge, on the Water of Leith, in the beginning 
of December, the severe weather having forced them to 
descend so far down the stream, to the immediate vicinity 
of Edinburgh. 
A pure white specimen of the Alpine hare, Lepus vari- 
ahiUsj recently shot in Lanarkshire, was also exhibited. 
The late severe weather had been very fatal to the common 
squirrels, Sciurus vulgaris, bringing them within the reach 
of the shooter ; and at present the shops of the bird-stuffers 
were filled with them, in very unusual numbers. 
V. Ornithological Notes. (Specimens exhibited.) By John Alexander 
Smith, M.D. 
(1.) Strix Tengmalmi. (Tem.) ; Noctua Tengmalmi. 
(Selby.) Tengmalm's Night-Owl. — The specimen exhibited, 
apparently a female, from its size, which is larger than the 
male, now measures nearly a foot in length from point of 
yellowish beak to tail ; length of wing from flexure is seven 
inches. It has a soft, downy appearance, and is of a choco- 
late-brown colour above, spotted with white ; below, white, 
spotted with yellowish-brown ; legs and toes closely covered 
with feathers, except on the under surface of the latter ; 
facial disk very distinct, nearly perfect, with black ring 
round eyes, and black spot on inner side ; the edges of the 
disk are prettily mottled with white spots on the brown 
feathers, and the upper part of face or head is also spotted 
over. 
It is a bird of northern Europe, and is only a rare, occa- 
sional visitor in Britain. It is believed to have been con- 
founded with the Btrix passerina of ornithologists, but is 
distinguished by its facial disk being more distinct, its softer 
and more bulky plumage, and also by the more abundant 
