MR. R. J. W. PURDY ON THU LUMINOSITY OF THE WHITE OWL. 549 
with my telescope it rose and settled again about ioo yards 
further into the field. Twice it passed across the field of 
view of my glass, when it looked like a large lamp. A slight 
mist hung over the ground. 
On December 22nd I was walking along the Fakenham 
Road, near Chop Lodge, Twyford, when I saw a light moving 
over some meadows to the south. I called at Twyford Hall, 
when Mrs. Hamond and her daughter came out and watched 
it with me. It suddenly rose high into the air as if frightened, 
and disappeared in the direction of Guist Church. 
On the 25th, 26th, and 28th December, it was seen by 
L. E. Leany, our schoolmaster, L. Allen, stationmaster, 
\V. Palmer, p. c.. Bird. E. Girling, myself and others, all 
residents in Foulsham. 
On December 19th, when Dr. Herbert, of Foulsham, and 
his son joined me for a walk, we observed the best display. 
About 8 p.m., the evening being dark, the bird issued from 
the covert 1 have before mentioned. Its luminosity seemed 
to have increased, and it literally lighted up the branches of 
the trees as it flew past them, occasionally mounting over 
their tops. After watching it for about half an hour, it was 
joined by a companion bird hardly so bright. This kept 
about 100 yards behind it. but not constantly. Eventually 
both disappeared in the trees near Twyford Church. The 
same evening it was seen by Mrs. A. Digby of Fakenham, 
her daughter, and Miss Lee- Warner. 
The night following, it was seen by Mrs. Chas. Hamond of 
Twyford Hall. Miss Lee- Warner, Mr. Philip Hamond of the 
Norfolk Regt. and Mr. E. Hamond. Lieut. R.X., in the Station 
Meadow, where it alighted on a post by the stream. I saw it 
hawking along the bank of this brook about n p.m. the same 
evening. 
On January 5th. 1908, at about 8.30 p.m.. Mrs. Purdy 
saw both birds hawking over Palmer’s Field for several 
minutes. One of them flew towards the station, the other 
passed quite over her head and then rose rapidly and flew 
towards my plantation. It seemed far brighter as it 
approached her than after it had passed. They were seen 
VOL. VIII. O O 
