loj^g-eaeed owl. 



OTUS VULGARIS. 



Boak black ; iris orange 3'ellow ; egrets very long, composed of eight or ten black 

 feathers, edged with yellow and white ; upper parts reddish yellow, mottled 

 with brown and grey ; lower parts lighter, with oblong streaks of deep brown. 

 Length fifteen inches ; breadth thirty-eight inches. Eggs white. 



Though not among the most frequent of the English Owls, 

 this species occurs in most of the wooded parts of England 

 and Ireland, as indeed it does in nearly all parts of the 

 world where woods are to be found. In Erance, where 

 it is common, it unites in its o^ti person all the mal- 

 practices which have been popularly ascribed to the whole 

 tribe of Owls. It is there said to be held in great detes- 

 tation by all the rest of the feathered tribe ; a fact which 

 is turned to good account by the bird-catcher, who, having 



