292 LITTLE OWL. 



in Europe, especially in the countries washed by the Mediterranean. 

 Examples from Greece are paler than those from Western Europe ; 

 and an increase in sandy tint has led to the separation of the 

 form which inhabits North Africa and Egypt, as A. glmix or 

 A. meridio7ialis : other variations in tint are found in South Russia 

 and in Asia Minor ; while between the Ural Mountains and Nor- 

 thern China there is a fairly distinct species, A. hadriana, with the 

 toes covered with feathers instead of hairy bristles. 



In April or May the Little Owl deposits its eggs in holes in ruins, 

 farm out-houses and other buildings, hollow trees, or rocks ; they are 

 white, and are 3-5 in number : average measurements i "4 by 

 I "15 in. Mr. Meade- Waldo informs me that incubation lasts twenty- 

 eight days ; that the bird feeds largely on insects, and frequents 

 lawns in the evening to collect earth-worms; while in winter it 

 catches birds at roost, and devours a large number of Thrushes; 

 eating also mice and other small mammals. Early in the spring the 

 male is very noisy ; repeating its note of cu and sometimes cu-ai^ 

 with exasperating monotony. This Owl is comparatively diurnal, 

 and is therefore liable to be mobbed by small birds ; for which 

 reason it is often used as a lure by Continental bird-catchers. Its 

 habit of alternately ducking down and drawing itself up to its full 

 height is extremely grotesque. 



The upper plumage is greyish-brown, striped on the head, spotted 

 on the head and wings, and barred on the tail with white ; under 

 parts dull white streaked with brown ; facial disk ill-defined ; no 

 operculum ; irides yellow ; toes covered with hairy bristles. Length 

 about 8 in., the female being rather larger than the male. The 

 young have a more rufous tinge than the adults. 



If we follow the least elastic interpretation of the often disregarded 

 laws of nomenclature, the generic name Athene is inadmissible, as 

 having been previously employed in Entomology, and Carine should 

 be adopted ;' but many will agree with me that the point should 

 be conceded, to preserve an association with Pallas Athene, to 

 whom this bird was sacred. The specific w^^mQ passe rina, sometimes 

 employed, is inadmissible ; for the Strix passerina of Linnxus is the 

 Pigmy Owl, a bird hardly larger than a Sparrow, and one which 

 has never occurred, or is likely to occur, in the British Islands. 



The Little Owl, and, I believe, all others, usually keep two toes 

 in front and two behind, when perched. The late Mr. Yarrell and 

 his draughtsman were probably unaware of this, which is a thing by 

 no means generally known, even now ; and in this respect the 

 attitudes of several of the Strigidre are not happy. 



