178 



A CiJIPlTRES. 



STRIGID.E. 



>^TRI<Ul)yE. 



Carink noctua (Scopoli*). 

 THE LITTLE OWL. 



Xoctua i^asscrinai. 



Cakine, KaupX- — Beak decurved from tlie base ; cere short and swollen ; nos- 

 trils oval ; lower mandible sinnated. Auditory conch large, the orifice small and 

 without an operculum. Facial disk not well defined. Wings large; the third 

 and fourth quill-feathers nearly equal in length. Legs long, covered with short 

 feathers, and toes above with bristles only. Head round, large and without 

 tufts. 



The Little Owl, like several others, can only be considered 

 an occasional visitor to this country, though it has now been 

 taken several times. There is no doubt, however, as has 



* Slrix noctua, Scopoli, Annus I. Historico-Naturalis, p. 22 (1769). 

 + Not Strix passerina, Linnseus. 



X Skizzirte Entwickelungs-Geschichte und Natiirliches System derEuropiiischen 

 Thierwelt, p. 29 (1829). 



