60 



STRIGIDiE. 



change from the silence of night, rather than the reverse. 

 The Little Owl is not generally supposed to be common 

 in England ; but as it comes abroad only by night, and 

 offers but an indifferent mark to the prowling game- 

 keeper, it may be more abundant than it is believed to 

 he. Its food consists of mice, beetles, bats, and sucli 



THE LITTLE OWL. 



small birds as it can surprise when roosting. It lays its 

 eggs in its usual hiding-place, making no nest. In cap- 

 tivity it is a most amusing bird, for though quiet and 

 grave by day, towards evening it becomes very animated, 

 twisting its body with strange contorti(jns, and jumping 

 in a peculiarly ludicrous manner. 



