126 LITTLE OWL. 



night, on mice, small birds, and insects, and throwing 

 up the indigestible parts in the form of small pellets. 

 White Owls deposit their eggs, five or six in number, and 

 of a whitish colour, in holes of old walls, or under the 

 eaves of unfrequented buildings. The old birds continue 

 to feed their young ones with mice, even for a long time 

 after they are able to fly. 



The plumage of the upper parts of the body is of 

 a delicate pale yellow colour, with innumerable white 

 dots ; and that of the under parts is whitish, with black 

 dots. The bill is white ; and the legs are feathered to the 

 claws. 



Little OiuL This Owl is scarcely larger in size than 

 a thrush. It is sometimes, though rarely, seen in Eng- 

 land ; but is very common on the continent of Europe, 

 and also in America. We are informed, that it sees 

 better in the day-time than most other nocturnal birds, 

 and sometimes flies abroad in pursuit of prey, even during 

 the sunshine. The mice and small birds, on which it 

 chiefly feeds, it tears in pieces with its bill and claws, 

 and then swallows by morsels. It frequents rocks, 

 caverns, and ruinous buildings, forming there its nest, 

 and laying five eggs, which are of a white colour, spotted 

 with yellow. Its cry sounds like the words pou-pou, 

 haime-haime. 



The bill is whitish brown. The head, back, and wing- 

 coverts are light brown with white spots. The breast is 

 whitish, variegated with rusty. The wing-quills have five 

 rows of white spots. The tail is barred with white, and 

 all the quill- feathers are marked with regularly-disposed, 

 round, and white spots. The feet are feathered to the 

 claws. 



