132 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Southern Little Owl.
(Carine glaux.)
Mr. Oldfield Thomas examined pellets of this Egyptian race
of owl, and recognised teeth of the musk shrew, Crocidura
religiosa of Arvicanthis variegatus, and the Egyptian form of
the house mouse, Mus musculus orientalis, with skulls of house
sparrow. Insect remains were comparatively scarce but in-
cluded mandibles, etc., of the false scorpion Galeodes arabs. The
house mice were in the greatest number, but the shrew-remains,
were numerous.51
Mr. T. A. Coward observed that pellets of this bird, received
by him from Luxor, in Upper Egypt, included "considerable
quantities of sand mixed with and felted into the hair in the
interior of the pellet."52
Mottled Wood-Owl.
(Syrnium ocellatum.)
Castings of this Bengal species of owl were examined, and
found to consist of small rodents.53
Spotted Owlet.
(Athene brama.)
Another Bengal owl, whose pellets were found to consist of
insects and bats.54
Snowy Owl.
A captive bird of this species was observed repeatedly to
throw up castings.55 Other pellets, examined in the Arctic
regions, were found to contain remains of lemmings,56 and
of the Little Auk.57
Witherby says that spiders are found in its castings.58
Spotted Eagle Owl of South Africa.
Of this South African owl (? Bubo capensis or B. maculosus
it is recorded: "Before the young are hatched there is a pretty
fair layer of pellets ejected by the sitting bird, and this forms
a soft bed for the little ones."59
51 T A. Coward, F.Z.S., "Note on the Little Owl and its Food," Manchester Memoirs, vol.
lvi., 1912, No. 8.
52 ibid.
53 Zoologist, 1902, p. 212.
54 Ibid. 1902 p. 213
55 Zoologist 1863, p. 8639; ibid. 1864, p. 9318.
56 Zoologist, 1878, p. 417; ibid l880, p. 121,
57 Zoologist, 1895, p. 90.
58 Practical Handbook of British Birds, ii., 1920, p. 66.
59 Zoologist, 1875, p. 4353.