BIRDS seventeen eggs have been taken successively from a single nest. The castings of this species show that shrews, mice, and voles are its favourite food. 90. Long-eared Owl. Aslo otus, Linn. Locally, Horned Owl, Brown Owl. Resident, but local and scarce, being com- monest at Ketton and Empingham. Five and twenty years ago it was common also at Tickencote according to A. C. Elliot, and it used to occur at Ayston, Wardley, and Rid- lington, localities which it now seems to have deserted. Their food consists more of small birds, such as chaffinches, than of mice, judging from their pellets, 91. Short-eared Owl. Aiio acdphr'inui (Pallas). Locally, Woodcock Owl. An autumn migrant but scarce, and I have been able to hear of only four or iive actual instances 92. Tawny Owl. Syrnium aluco (Linn.). Localh, Wood Owl, Ivy Owl, Hoop Owl. Pretty generally, though sparingly, dis- tributed over the county. This species is slowly declining in numbers, though fairly common round Normanton. The usual complement of eggs in this neighbourhood seems to be two, with occasionally three, though four have been found. As this owl is not double brooded, and not so fertile as the white owl, its disparity in numbers is partly accounted for. The grey variety occurs in Rutland, and I have a bird of this kind, taken from its nest in 1895, which is still in excel- lent condition and hoots continually almost every night in the year, except just when moulting. This species, as found in Rutland, seems considerably smaller than the same elsewhere. Its pellets show that its food is chiefly rats, mice, and moles, and only occa- sionally small birds. 93. Little Owl. Athene noctua (Scopoli). Successfully naturalized from numerous individuals liberated by the late Lord Lilford. The first Rutland specimen was obtained in 1 89 1 at Normanton. Four years later they were to be seen near Glaston Tunnel. In 1897 they reached Seaton, in 1899 Exton, and since then they have spread all over the south-eastern part of the county and probably by now over the whole of it. Some cabtings I examined contained only the shards of cockchafers. 94. Scops-Owl. Scops giu (Scopoli). One instance only, the specimen in ques- tion being killed near Duddington, within the Rutland border, in 1876, and recorded by A. C. Elliot. 95. Eagle Owl. Bubo ignavus, T. Forster. A specimen killed near Stamford on 12 April 1879 {Zoologht, iii, 5. iii, 106) has always been considered one of the most trust- worthy occurrences of this bird in England, as the late Canon Tristram, who examined it soon after it had been skinned, stated that there were no signs of its having been in captivity. The late Mr. Evans, of Bourne, who stuffed this specimen, said he received two eagle owls, one on 16 April 1879, the other on 3 May 1879. One of these was marked Lord Aveland (now Earl of Ancaster, owner of Normanton Park), and certainly an eagle owl, belonging to the Rev. Robert Hurt of Carlby, Lincolnshire, which had escaped, was killed by a keeper named Galletly in Normanton Park. As to the other nothing more is known. 96. Hen-Harrier. Circus cyaneus (Linn.). Must have been of frequent occurrence formerly, as Rutland would then have been near the fens and suitable to its habits. Speci- mens have been recorded from Seaton and Barrowden and Glaston and near Collyweston (Northants), and possibly from Ketton and Hambleton. The Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) used no doubt to be seen, but no record of it has survived. [Montagu's Harrier. Circus cineraceus (Mon- tagu). The inclusion of this species rests on a somewhat doubtful egg found at Bisbrooke in 1865, and on an observation by Mr. Theodore Bell of a large hawk seen perched upon a gate, within easy visual distance, which he describes as 'so grey-looking as almost to be called white']. 97. Buzzard. Buteo vulgaris, Leach. Formerly resident and common, now a mere straggler. The last nest recorded near Uppingham was taken about 1827. It was frequently seen till about 1850 over the Wel- land valley. One was seen in 1880 at Seaton by the late Mr. R. Trycn. In November 1906 two were seen for some time in the Burley Woods. 67
