72 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



SCOPS GIU (Scopoli). 

 SCOPS-OWL. 



Strix giu, Scop. Ann. i, Hist. Nat. p. 19 (1769). 



Scops giu, Newton, Oath. Wolleij. i. p. 153 (1864) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds 



Brit. Mils, ii, p. 47 ; Koenig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 162 ; id. J. f. 0. 1892, 



p. 351 ; Whitaker, Ibis, 1895, p. 103. 

 Strix scops, Malherbe, Cat. Bais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 7 (1846). 

 Scops aldrovandi, Malherbe, Cat. Rais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 7 (1846). 

 Scops zorca, Loche, ExpL Sci. Alg. Ois. i, p. 104 (1867). 

 Pisorhina scops, Erlauger, J.f. 0. 1898, p. 485. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, froui Tuuis, North Tuuisia. 



Facial disc, wiiicli is not clearly defined, grey with a blackish ruff on each 

 side ; general colour of upper parts grey washed with rufous-brown and 

 pencilled and streaked with black and dark Ijrown ; wings and tail irregu- 

 larly barred ; uuderparts greyish white, mottled with rufous and streaked 

 with black ; feet fealliered as far as the toes, which are bare. 



Iris yellow ; bill blackish ; toos greyish. 



Total length 8 inches, wing 6, culmen -75, tarsus 1-10. 



Adult female similar to the male in plumage, but rather lai'ger. 



Observations. — There seems to be a certain amount of variation in colora- 

 tion between examples of this Owl from North and South Tunisia, those 

 from the latter region being rather more rufous than those from the former. 



This small Owl is abundant in Tunisia during the periods of mifrra- 

 tion, and to a less extent throughout the rest of the year. In Algeria 

 and Marocco the species is also numerous, particularly during the 

 spring and autumn, and Loche states that it is to be met with in 

 the former country at all seasons. In Italy, although eminently 

 migratory, it is to be found occasionally during the colder months, even 

 as far north as Tuscany, while in Sicily it is not uncommon in winter, 

 and may be considered as sedentary in that island, as it is also said to 

 be in Sardinia. 



In the Tunisian Kegency this little Owl may constantly be met 

 with after the end of March, both north and south of the Atlas. In 

 the more northern districts olive-groves seem to be its favourite 

 haunts, in the southern districts palm-oases, but the species is also 

 often to be found frequenting pine woods and mimosa thickets. In 

 the Gafsa oasis I used frequently to hear these Owls of an evening 



