tengmalm’s night owl. 271 
“ recently occurred,” but the localities hare not been 
detailed ; that in Mr Selby’s collection was killed 
near Morpeth in Northumberland. It seems 
pretty common in some parts of the continent, 
particularly the northern and eastern parts, living 
in the extensive pine forests, and breeding in the 
holes of decayed trees. According to Temminck, 
it is in a great part insectivorous, feeding on 
phalenaj and coleoptera ; the smaller mammalia 
are also said to be eaten. It is found also in North 
America, extending to the borders of the Great 
Slave Lake. The plumage is remarkably loose 
and soft, at the same time full and ample ; the 
fascial disk is white, shading to yellowish white, 
and gray towards the outer edges ; while around 
the eyes, and on the feathers which cover the bill, 
it is of a dull and deep black. The ruff is well 
marked, and the feathers composing it are broad ; 
opposite the conchal opening it is deep brownish 
black, beneath it is pale liver brown, with the 
base of the feathers white. The head, upper parts, 
wings, and tail, have liver brown for their ground 
colour ; on the nape the base of the feathers is 
yellowish white, giving the appearance of a pale 
collar. The colour of the back is nearly uniform. 
The edges of the shoulders white, and also the 
scapulars, the latter having a narrow edging of 
liver brown ; the greater coverts, secondaries, and 
