that this bird lays its eggs in holes of trees, or in the
nest-boxes set up by the inhabitants of Lapland for the
accommodation of Goldeneye Ducks and other holebreeding
water-fowl. The number of eggs varies from
four to seven. I received five of this species alive from
Helsingfors in the summer of 1888. I did not notice
that their habits differed from those of other Wood-
Owls in captivity, except that they were much less active
and savage than some Hawk-Owls received in the same
consignment. They were voracious feeders and great
bathers, and seemed to be in no way inconvenienced by
bright sunlight. The chief peculiarity of these birds
was their cry, which, as mentioned by Wheelwright, is
a very musical, long-drawn whistle, quite unlike the
note of any of the numerous Owls with whom I have
the honour of personal acquaintance. Although these
little Owls seemed to bear captivity well, and did not
exhaust themselves by struggling to escape, I lost them
all within two years, and vainly tried to discover any
cause for their death.