THE LITTLE OWL 



Carine meridionalis 



Plumage — A plain greyish-brown with dark, markings 

 and spots on the breast ; eyes yellow. Entire length, 8*5 

 inches. 



The Little j Owl is a common bird, but it is 

 not, when flying, very owl-like in appearance ; and 

 doubtless it is very often seen and not recognised 

 as an owl at all, especially as it flies freely in the 

 daytime, and I have even seen it sitting facing 

 the sun on some wooden trellis-work in a garden 

 at mid-day ; and not only once, but morning after 

 morning it could be seen enjoying the warmth. 

 This peculiarity, the very opposite of what we 

 find in most owls, has led to an awkward 

 position in some parts of England — for in certain 

 of the Midland counties this owl is rapidly be- 

 coming a perfect scourge. Some distinguished 

 naturalists in Northamptonshire and other counties 

 thought it would be good to introduce this 

 undoubtedly rather fascinating bird from the 

 Continent — where it is common — into the British 

 Isles — where it was very rare — so year after year 



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