SCOPS OWL 



417 



characteristic of the species. Akhough the female is distinguishable 

 externally from the male merely by her slightly larger size, immature 

 birds are recognisable by the more rufous tinge of their plumage. 



The scops owl (Scv/^s sco/^s of some authors) ranges over the greater 

 part of Europe to the south of Scandinavia, as well as northern Africa, 

 whence it extends through south-western and Central Asia to India ; 

 some of the Indian birds presenting characteristics of colour which 

 may entitle them to rank as a distinct race. 



In habits the scops is to some extent migratory, and this will 

 account for its occasional appear- 

 ance in England, more especially in 

 the southern and eastern counties. 

 The number of recorded occurrences, 

 which include one from Yorkshire 

 and a second from Cumberland, is 

 considerable, but there can be little 

 doubt that some at least of these are 

 based on birds escaped from cap- 

 tivity, although others are genuine. 

 This being so, little advantage would 

 accrue from chronicling the indi- 

 vidual instances, although an excep- 

 tion may be made in the case of a 

 specimen recorded from Kent in 

 1 90 1. Reference may also be made 

 to a specimen taken in Sutherland- 

 shire in 1854, as being the most 

 northerly record. In Ireland the 

 species is reported to have occurred 

 at least seven times up to the year 



1900, mostly in spring and summer. The alleged nesting of the species 

 in Sutherlandshire is sufficiently refuted on the ground of latitude, 

 while that in Eden Dene may be discredited from other considerations. 



Scops owls, of which there are several different species, ranging 

 over the temperate and tropical zones of the greater part of the world 

 with the exception of Australia, are thoroughly nocturnal birds, feeding 

 mainly on insects (although occasionally taking a small bird or a mouse), 

 ajid uttering a peculiar and unmistakable two-syllabled cry, repeated 

 at regular and somewhat long intervals. This cry is generally uttered 

 from the shelter of a bush or thickly foliaged tree in the evening, and 

 serves to indicate the presence of these comical-looking little owls in a 



2 E 



iE ROWLAND ' 



SCOPS OWL, 



