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THE SCOPS EARED OWL. 



LITTLE OWL. Athene paaserina. 



called the Austrian Rufous Owlet, or the Sparrow Owl. Although so small a creature, its 

 food is the same as that of any of its larger relatives, consisting of small birds, bats, mice, and 

 various insects. The general color of this curious little Owl is clove-brown, banded and marked 



with yellowish-brown, gray, and white. It may 

 easily be distinguished from other Owls by the 

 legs, which are very long in proportion to the 

 dimensions of the bird, and instead of being feath- 

 ered down to the toes, are covered with very short 

 hair-like plumage, becoming very scanty over the 

 toes. It is easily domesticated, and in a tamed 

 state is so voracious that, according to Bechstein, 

 it can swallow five mice at a single meal. 



ANOTHER curious little Owl is the TEITOMALM'S 

 OWL, or DEATH BIRD ; the latter name having 

 been given to it on account of a common super- 

 stition that reigns among several of the North 

 American Indian tribes. When an Indian hears 

 one of these birds uttering its melancholy cry, he 

 whistles towards the spot from whence the sound 

 proceeded, and if the bird does not answer him, he 

 looks for a speedy death. 



This species is at first sight not unlike the Little 

 Owl, but may be at once distinguished from that 

 bird by the structure of its legs and toes, and the 

 thick feathery coating with which they are clad. 

 It is a very common bird over the whole of the 

 inhabited portions of North America, but is frequently found in Norway, Sweden, Russia, 

 and even in Northern France and Italy. It is a nocturnal bird, seldom wandering from its 

 home during the hours of daylight, as it is almost blinded by the unaccustomed glare, and 

 may be easily captured by hand while thus bewildered. The nest of the Tengmalm's Owl is 

 generally made of grass, and is placed about half-way up some -convenient pine-tree. The 

 eggs are seldom more than two in number, are pure white in color, and not quite so globular 

 as is the case with the generality of Owls' eggs. 



The color of this bird is more rich and better defined than that of the Little Owl. The 

 whole of the upper parts of the body are a rich chocolate-brown, dotted and splashed with 

 many white markings, which are very minute upon the top of the head, and larger upon the 

 back and wings, some indeed being arranged on the lower portions of the wings so as to form 

 irregular stripes. Similar white spots are placed on the tail, which is usually of a dark brown. 

 The eye disk is grayish-white, excepting a bold black -brown ring just round the eye. The 

 under portions of the body are grayish-white, covered with numerous brown bars and spots, 

 and the plumage of the legs and toes is also gray-white sprinkled with brown spots. The size 

 of the Tengmalm's Owl is nearly the same as that of the Little Owl. 



WE now arrive at a large group of Owls which are remarkable for two tufts of feathers 

 which rise from the head, and occupy nearly the same relative position as the ears of quad- 

 rupeds. These "ears," as they are called, have, however, nothing to do with the organs of 

 hearing, but are simply tufts of feathers, which can be raised or depressed at the will of the 

 bird, and give a most singular expression to the countenance. 



The first of these birds is the SCOPS EARED OWL, a most singular little creature, which 

 is sometimes, though rarely, taken in England, and has therefore been placed in the catalogue 

 of British Birds. 



The geographical range of this species is very great, specimens now in the museums having 

 been taken in Germany and several parts of Europe, India, Malacca, China, Gambia, and the 



