424 SCOPS ALDROVANDI. 



Length to end of tail 85 inches ; wing from flexure 6| ; 

 tail Sj's ; bill along the ridge f ; tarsus 1 ; hind toe ^3, its 

 claw J I ; third toe Z^, its claw y|. 



Habits. — This species was introduced into the British Fauna 

 by Montagu, " upon the undoubted authority of Mr Foljambe, 

 of Osberton, an accurate ornithologist,"" who had in his collec- 

 tion a specimen shot in Yorkshire, and, besides being aware 

 of another in that of Mr Fothergill, of York, had heard of 

 others that had been seen in the same county. Since that 

 time, several individuals are recorded as having been obtained 

 in various parts of England, where however the species is of 

 very rare occurrence, and supposed to be merely migratory. 

 It is said not to extend to the northern parts of the Continent, 

 but to be not uncommon in the southern portions of Germany 

 and in France, to become plentiful in the countries bordering 

 on the Mediterranean, and to occur in Africa, as well as in 

 Asia. Authors state that it feeds on mice and large insects, 

 is of nocturnal habits, nestles in the fissures of rocks or in ca- 

 vities in decayed trees, and lays from two to four roundish 

 white eggs. Mr Spence, the celebrated entomologist, informs 

 us, in the Magazine of Natural History, that in summer it is 

 very common in Italy, where it is remarked for constantly re- 

 peating its plaintive and monotonous cry of keiL\ Jcew, at regu- 

 lar intervals of about two seconds all night long. In that 

 country it feeds wholly on beetles, grasshoppers, and other in- 

 sects, and takes its departure when the cold season approaches, 

 in order to pass the winter in Africa and southern Asia. 



