i68 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



(See preceding page.) 



The Scops Owl {Scops scops, Linnaeus) is a rare straggler 

 in spring and autumn to the British Isles, and is found 

 inhabiting the temperate parts of Europe, Western Asia, 

 and Northern Africa. The adult is greyish above, each 

 feather having a dark centre and vermiculated with different 

 tints of brown ; tail-feathers have bars of light and dark 

 brown ; ear-tufts, pretty well developed ; under parts, grey, 

 suffused with rich buff, streaked and finely vermiculated 

 with brown ; irides, orange-yellow ; bill, black ; feet, not 

 feathered. Length, about seven inches. The female 

 resembles the male. The young show more rufous than 

 the adults. 



