4i8 OWLS 



district. Those interested in attempts to explain the evolution of 

 the colour-pattern in birds' feathers will find a paper on this subject 

 in connection with the present species in tlic Zoological Society's 

 Proceedings for the year 1901. 



Two alleged instances of the occurrence of the American scops, or 

 mottled owl {Sco/^s asio), in England are based in all probability on 

 specimens escaped from captivit)-, or on mis-identification, or both 

 together. 



In several parts of England, notably southern Bcd- 



, . fordshire and parts of Hampshire and Northamp- 

 (Athene noctua). ,.,.,, , ., , 



tonshn-c durmg the last dozen years, it has been no 



uncommon event to see a solemn " owlet " perched upon some way- 

 side gate-post, and staring and blinking in a manner peculiar to owls 

 alone. Although such birds are examples of the little owl, they must 

 not be taken as indications of the natural occurrence of this rare visitor 

 in England, as they have in most cases been turned out in private parks 

 or coverts, whence they have spread over the neighbouring districts. 



Though occasionally confounded with Tengmalm's owl, the little 

 owl (the Carinc noctua of some ornithological works), which is devoid 

 of horns, may always be distinguished from that species by an examina- 

 tion of the apertures of the cars, which will be found to take the form of 

 small round holes, without covers. In addition to this, it should be 

 noticed that in the present bird the toes are scantily covered with 

 bristles in place of being completely feathered. As regards colour, the 

 plumage of the little owl is dark brown on the upper-parts with 

 triangular white spots on the head, round white spots on the neck and 

 wings, and white bars on the tail ; below it is white with heavy dark 

 brown streaks, while the ill-defined face-disk is greyish white, the great 

 staring eyes being yellow. Nine and a half inches is the length of the 

 full-grown female, while the male falls short of this by the odd half-inch. 

 .Vs is so frequently the case in this group, young birds are redder than 

 their parents. 



In its typical form the little owl is a native of central and southern 

 Europe, but it is represented by a redder race {Athene noctua glaux) in 

 Elgypt and south-western Asia, while in Turkestan and India it is re- 

 placed by the nearly allied Athene bactriana, distinguished by the fully 

 feathered toes. Although there can be little doubt that some of the 

 numerous examples of these owls recorded in l^igland — notably those 

 dating from the earl}' part of last century — were genuine migrants to 

 this country, it is also certain that a vei)' large percentage is the result 



