582 EAPTOEES, OK BIRDS OF PREY. 



Dale, an English author, mentions another example of the 

 utility of the Scops. In 1580 such a large quantity of mice 

 appeared in the plains near South Minster that all the plants 

 were gnawed off by the roots. Soon after, a niimber of Small 

 Horned Owls came in flocks, and destroyed the mice. 



When pressed by hunger, the Scops is not above eating fish. 

 It may then be seen hovering over ponds and rivers, and seizing 

 fish upon the surface with remarkable dexterity. Bats and large 

 insects also are its prey. 



It is difficult to kill or catch the Scops, although they travel in 

 numerous companies ; for they do not begin their journey until 

 the evening, a short time before night closes in, and settle down 

 in the woods during the day. If they meet with a place 

 favourable for their subsistence, such as a plain intersected by 

 marshes and small woods, they remain there for two or three days. 

 In the evening they have a strange habit of following people 

 passing through their haunts. Sometimes they precede them, 

 hopping from tree to tree, and uttering low, plaintive cries, 

 frequently fluttering round almost sufficiently close to touch 

 them. The Scops is easily tamed, and becomes very familiar ; 

 it is, consequently, in much request in Savoy for the purj)Ose of 

 bird- catching. It perfectly recognises the voice of whoever feeds 

 it, and, although at liberty, will not abandon the house of its 

 master. But when the season of migration arrives it would be of no 

 use to attempt to detain it ; kindness and caresses are all in vain. 

 Unless the precaution of shutting it up be taken, it rejoins its 

 companions, and accompanies them, perhaps, to Africa or Asia. 



There is a variety of this bird, named Scops asio, which is found 

 in North America, on the shores of the Ohio and Mississippi. It is 

 very o^entle, and allows itself to be caressed when taken, without 

 attempting to bite or scratch. Audubon relates that he carried 

 one of these birds from New York to Philadelj)hia ; he kej^t it in 

 his pocket during the whole journey, accustomed it to eat out of 

 his hand, and the bird did not attempt to escape. 



Several other species of Scops are scattered over the two con- 

 tinents. The most interesting is the exotic species called Choliha, 

 which the inhabitants of Brazil and Paraguay rear in their dwell- 

 ings to destroy rats and mice. 



