90 
allen’s naturalist’s library. 
Range outside the British Islands. — An inhabitant of the northern 
portion of North America, extending its winter range to the 
northern border of the United States. 
Habits. — Very similar to those of the European species, and 
the bird is distinguished by the same fierceness with which it 
will attack anyone who ventures near its nest. According to 
Mr. L. M. Turner’s observations in Alaska, the Hawk-Owls 
fly equally well by night or by day. 
Nest. — None ; the bird generally selecting a hole in a tree, 
as with the European species. Mr. Dali relates that in the 
Lower Yukon River he found the bird breeding in the top of 
an old birch-stub about fifteen feet from the ground, the eggs 
being deposited on the bare wood, and being incubated by the 
male bird. 
Eggs. — ^Similar in size and appearance to those of the Euro- 
pean Hawk-Owl. 
THE LITTLE OWLS. GENUS CARINE. 
Carhie, Kaup, Nat. Syst. Vog. Eur. p. 29 (1829). 
Type, C. noctiia (L.). 
The Little Owls form a small group of about six species, 
which are found in Central and Southern Europe, North-cast 
Africa, and through Central Asia to Northern China, as well 
as throughout the Indian Peninsula and the Burmese countries. 
In no case does the size of these small Owls exceed 8 inches 
and they have, moreover, a curious swollen pea-shaped nostril, 
in which the nasal opening is piierccd. The wing is. rounded, 
the first primary not falling very far short of the tip of the 
second. The fifth primary has an indentation on the inner 
web, which is escalloped like the first four quills. The toes 
are thickly feathered at the base, and the hind part of the 
tarsus is always concealed by plumes. These Little Owls of 
the genus Carine must not be confounded with the Pigmy 
Owlets {GlaHcidiiim), of which no example has yet been found 
in Great Britain, though there is a species found in Europe, 
viz,, Ghiticidium passerinum. The Pigmy Owlets occur in 
nearly every part of the World, with the exception of Australia 
and the Austro-Malayan Islands. 
