COMMON WOOD-OWL. 377 



first and second plumage are also ferruginous. Not 

 having been able, however to procure recent grey birds, 

 I can only conjecture that they are old individuals, 

 and whether M. Temniinck be correct in stating that 

 they are old males only remains to be determined. 

 Some authors prefer the specific name Aluco, others 

 stridula ; and this might form a subject of keen discus- 

 sion. The best way of settling the matter is to unite 

 them : Aluco is as good a generic name as Ulula, Noc- 

 tua, Syrnium, or any other; and I defy the whole orni- 

 thological world to shew me a more happy union. 



The names by which this species is known or has 

 been described in Britain are very numerous : Brown 

 Owl, Tawny Owl, Beech Owl, Grey Owl, Ivy Owl, 

 Aluco Owl, Wood Owl, Screech Owl, Howlet, Jenny 

 Howlet, Cumhachag, Cailleach-oidche, &c. 



Strix Aluco. Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 132. 

 Strix stridula. Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 133. 

 Strix Aluco. Lath. Incl. Ornith. vol. i. p. 5Q. 

 Strix stridula. Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 58. 

 Tawny Owl. Mont. Ornith. Diet. 

 Strix Aluco. Temm. Man. (TOrnith. p. 89. 

 Strix stridula. Ivy Owl. Flem. Brit. Anim. p. 57. 

 Tawny Ov^l. Ulula stridula. Selby, Illust. vol. i. p. 103. 

 Syrnium Aluco. Tawny Owl. Jenyns, Brit. Vertehr. Anim. 

 p. 93. 



