ACCIPITRE8. 



SCOPS-OWL. 



173 



STRIGID^. 



Scops giu (Scopoli *). 



THE SCOPS-OWL. 



Scofis Aldrovandii. 



Scops, SavigmjX- — Beak much decurved from the base, cere small, under mandi- 

 ble notched. Nostrils round. Facial disk incomplete above the eyes ; auditory 

 conch small, and without an oi^erculum. Wings Jong, reaching to the end of the 

 tail ; the third quill generally the longest. Tarsi rather long, feathered in front: 

 the toes naked. Head furnished with two tufts of feathers. 



This little tufted Owl, one of the smallest of the family 

 found in this country, was first noticed as a British Bird in 

 or about the year 1805, by the then Mr. Foljambe of Osber- 

 ton and the late Mr. Charles Fotheigill from specimens 

 killed in Yorkshire, as announced by Montagu. Other 

 examples, to the number nearly of a score, have since 

 occurred ; but at various times of the year, thus shewing 



'■ atrix (jiu Scopoli, Annus I. Historico-Naturalis, p. I'J (1709). 



t Fleming, British Animals, p. 5/ ^1828). 



+ Systcnie des Oiseiuix de I'Esypte ct de hi Syrie, p. (1810). 



