Il8 LITTLE OWL. 



The Little Owl was the emblematic bird of ancient Athens, 

 the favourite of Minerva, as the characteristic figures on sculptures 

 and coins abundantly prove. Indeed some have supposed that the 

 great goddess herself was represented, in the early days of Greece, 

 with an Owl's head. The Rev. F. O. Morris, in his " British 

 Birds," records a specimen as having been obtained in Hereford- 

 shire, in 1838, which is now in the possession of Mr. Chaffey; and 

 the Rev. R. Blight, in his list of birds (VVoolhope Transactions for 

 1879) mentions having once seen it at Bredwardine. 



The Little Owl is a grotesque looking bird, whose physiognomy 

 is characterized by " fear with spectacles and a sharp nose." It 

 takes up its position in the deep holes of trees or ruins, and as 

 evening comes on, utters a plaintive dolorous cry of " K'week, 

 K'week," very continuously, which thus reveals its presence. 

 The cry of the Little Owl in the night," says Richardson, "is a 

 single melancholy note, repeated at intervals of a minute or tw^o ; 

 and it is one of the superstitious practices of the Indians to whistle 

 when they hear it. If the bird is silent when thus challenged, the 

 speedy death of the inquirer is augured ; hence its name with them 

 is that of the 'Death Bird.'" 



Now homewards, as she hopeless went 



The churchyard path along, 

 The blast blew cold, the dark Owl scream'd 



Her lover's funeral song. 



Mallet — Edwin and Emma. 



Order— ACCIPITRES. 



[Family — Vulturid^.] 



[Genus — Gyps.] 



[Gyps fulvus — Griffon Vulture.] 



Once obtained in Ireland. 



[Genus — Neophron.] 



[Neophron percnopterus — Egyptian Vulture.] 



Twice recorded in Great Britain. 



