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LITTLE OWT. 
LITTLE NIGHT OWL. 
Strix passerina, Linnzvs. LATHAM. 
“ — nudipes, NILison. JARDINE. 
“ dasypus, MEYER. 
Noctua passerina, JENYNS, SELBY. 
“  _nudipes, GOULD. 
Striz—Some species of Owl. Passerina, Passer— 
A Sparrow. 
‘THts’ says Wilson, ‘is one of the least of the whole genus; 
but, like many other little folks, makes up in neatness of 
general form and appearance for deficiency of size, and is, 
perhaps, the most shapely of all our Owls.’ 
The Little Owl is common in Russia, Germany, Holland, 
Switzerland, Spain, Greece, and the Levant; and in the northern 
parts of North America, according to Wilson, but his description 
seems to me to be utterly inapplicable to the bird before us. 
Two were taken in chimneys many years ago, in the parish 
of Lambeth. One was seen in Wiltshire, nailed up against 
a barn door, and probably many another has adorned the 
‘samekeeper’s museum.’ ‘Three are recorded to have been met 
with in Devonshire; one in Worcestershire; one in Flintshire; 
one near Bristol; a pair bred near Norwich, and two other 
specimens have been authenticated in Norfolk. One was shot 
at Widrington, in Northumberland, in January, 1812. One 
was on sale in July, 1842, in the Brighton market, and said 
to have been shot in an orchard at Sheffield Park, near 
Fletching: it was believed from the light colour of its plumage 
to be a young bird. One was caught near Derby, which lived 
a long time in captivity, becoming so far tame as to know 
those who fed it: it used to drink much. Two others were 
met with in the parish of Melbourne, in the same county; 
