I04 



British Birds. 



THE SMALL 



TUFTED OWL. 



{Stcops scops.} 



destroying a considerable quantity 

 of S'lme, as it takes not only Rabbits 

 and Hares, but Grouse and Phea- 

 sants, while it also captures other 

 wild birds, such as Crows. The nest 

 often consists of nothing more than 

 the pellets cast up by the birds and 

 the bones of animals. It is often 

 placed on the ground or on a rock, 

 more rarely in the hole of a tree. 

 The eggs are white, rather rough in 

 te.xture, and measure more than two 

 inches m length. 



This is a Bubo 

 in miniature, with 

 the same elon- 

 gated ear tufts, 

 but only seven and a half inches in 

 length. The general aspect of the 

 plumage is grey, and the vermicu- 

 lations and pencillings on the plum- 

 age are very fine, and not coarse as is 

 the case with the great Eagle-Owl. 



The Small Tufted Owl, or ■ Scops ' Owl, as it is often called, is a rare and occasional 



visitor to Great Britain, and has occurred in various parts of England, Scotland, and 



at least three times in Ireland. It often happens, however, that specimens of the 



' Scops' Owl said to have been killed in Britain turn 



out to be examples of vSouth American species, palmed 



oft on the unwary purchaser. This little Owl has a 



wide range thoughout Europe and Northern Asia. 



It is a night-flying species, and makes scarcely any 



nest, laying its eggs in the hole of a wall or of a tree. 

 Although the fact is not 

 generally known, the Snowy Owl 

 has ear-tufts, as in the Eagle-Owl. 

 but thev are never very large, and 



are consequently difticult to detect in the plumage 



of the bird's head. The species is, however, easily- 

 told by its snowy-white plumage, and by its densely 



plumed feet, the claws being almost entirely hidden 



bv the feathers of the toes. Thk Small Tuftkd Owl. 



The Eagle-Owl. 



THE 

 SNOWY OWL. 

 (Nrcti'ii iiyclcn.) 



WHfm 



