NYCTALE TENGMALMLI.
Tengmalm’s Owl.

Strix Tengmalmi, Gmel. edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. pe2ol,
Noctua Tengmalmi, Cuv. Régn. Anim., edit. 1829, tom. i. p. 345.
Athene Tengmalmi, Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 549.

Afgolius Tengmalmi, Kaup, Natiirl. Syst., p. 34.

Scotophilus Tengmalmi, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 217.

Nyctale Tengmalm, Bonap. Geog. and Comp. List. of Birds of Eur. and N. Amer., p. 7

 

In size and general appearance the Nyctale Tenymaimi is very similar

: to Athene noctua ; so much so, says
Naumann, that superficial observers have confounded it with that bird ; '

the ornithologist, however, sees at
‘ace is whiter, the facial disk more
complete, the plumage more dense and silky; the arrangement of the markings is different, and the tarsi
and toes, instead of being bare, are thickly clothed with feathers.

a glance that it is not only specifically but generically distinct—the {

The situations the bird affects and
the countries it inhabits are also very different; it keeps to the great primeval forests of spruce and fir
clothing the mountains of various parts of Europe, particularly those of Norway, Lapland, and Russia; it is
true that it is sparingly found in the central parts of Germany, in Switzerland, and occasionally in England,
but its visits to this country must be regarded as purely accidental. Naumann states that it is not
so wild in its disposition as 4. noctua, that it sleeps more soundly during the day, and is not so easily
aroused and driven from the holes in the trees in which it rests, putting up iil good deal of Henkin
before it will leave its retreat. Its flight is said to be like that of Orus vulgaris, but with a quicker flapping
of the wings.

Its food consists chiefly of small quadrupeds, particularly wood- and field-mice, shrews, and bats, which
latter it probably takes while in a state of rest, or when leaving their lurking-places. Naumann says it is a
true nocturne, and that it retires to its resting-place before sunrise, and remains secluded therein until the
close of day.

Mr. H. E. Dresser has kindly furnished me with the following extracts from letters addressed to him
by his friends and correspondents in the countries mentioned below ; and I insert them as an interesting
addition to our small stock of knowledge respecting this species.

Mr. Edward Leidensacher, of Cilli, in Styria, says, “ Myctale Tengmalmi is very rare here, still it is
occasionally found nesting. On the 4th of May, 1863, I received two fully feathered little owls, taken out of
the nest the day previous. They were dark brown, whitish round the facial disk ; the wings had whitey-
grey spots, the bill was bluish, and their irides light yellow. I took care of them, and in the month
of October they cast off the brown plumage, and became coloured and marked as Tengmalm’s Owls nsually
are. They were taken out of a hollow tree, on the edge of a wood near Prekorje, about an hour's
walk from Cilli. The female must certainly have had eggs in March.”

Dr. Kutter, of Transtadt, in Posen, wrote on the 27th March, 1867, “I have found this Owl breeding
five times,—twice in 1862, when I obtained three eggs on the 11th of April, and four on the 15th ; and three
times in 1866, viz. on the 25th of April three eggs incubated, on the Ist of May four fresh, and on the
14th of the same month four others also fresh. All were found in holes in trees at the height of about 20
feet from the ground, chiefly on the pine-thickets on the mountains. |

‘«‘T have never observed the Wyctale Tengmalmi in the low lands, whereas, on the other hand, its relative,
r found the latter breeding in the larger forests, but invariably

Athene noctua, occurs there ; and I have neve -
As to whether Nyctale Tengmalmi also nests

in trees, or buildings standing alone in fields or fruit-orchards. |
S yve 2enN assure r ‘ f F worthy
in rocks I cannot say from my own personal observation ; but I have been assured from a most trustworthy

I have always found the eggs at the bottom of a hole in a tree,

source that such is exceptionally the case.
without any regular nest under them, but sometimes surroun
but is not so fearless as thene noctua, from under
The number of the eggs seems to vary between

ded with a slight wreath of straws and feathers.
The bird it hard which I have several times
ie bird seems to sit hard,
drawn the eggs without apparently disturbing the bird.
ee. as is generally stated.

three and four, and not two and three, as 1s generally state

rene » eoos whe rely passing
I cannot say, as I have always procured the eggs when merely passing

As to whether they have a second brood

through the mountainous part of the

country.” :
The recorded instances of the occurrence of Tengmalm :
re | ‘ i . Ireland is not yet able
five in England, and one in Scotland ; é } >. che cccond, « nite

NG: sland, in 1812
lish examples, the first was shot near Morpeth, 1n Northumberland, in :

s Owl in the British Islands are only six in number—

to include it in her avifauna Of the five Eng-