HORNLESS OWLS. 553 



when on 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 secrete themselves 

 in the woods during the day. When they find a place favourable to 

 their habits of life, such as a plain intersected by marshes and small 

 woods, there they remain 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 littering 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 purpose of bird-catching. It perfectly recognises the voice of 

 whoever feeds it, and, although at liberty, will not abandon the house 

 of its master, except when the season of migration arrives, when it 

 would be useless to attempt to detain it ; kindness and caresses are 

 then all in vain. So, 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 

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

 very gentle, 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 Philadelphia ; he kept it in his 

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

 hand, and it never attempted to escape. 



Several other species of Horned Owls are scattered over the two 

 continents. The most interesting is the exotic species called Choliba, 

 which the inhabitants of Brazil and Paraguay rear in their dwellings 

 to destroy rats and mice. 



HORNLESS OWLS. 



The family of Hornless Owls is distinguished from the horned group 

 by the absence of projecting feathers on their heads. Many species 

 are comprehended in this family, the principal of which are the Little 

 or Sparrow Owls, burrowing Owls, Brown or Tawny Owl, White Barn 

 or Screech Owls, Hawk or Canada Owls, Ural Owls, and Snow Owls. 



Sparrow Owls are of small size ; their facial disc is incomplete ; 

 the tarsi are elongated ; the claws bare or slightly hairy ; their tails 

 short and square. There are numerous varieties, of which we shall 

 only notice the principal. 

 92* 



