NOCTUA.] AVES RAPTORES. 93 



lines; of the tarsus two inches six lines; of the tail four inches eight 

 lines ; from the carpus to the end of the wing eleven inches : breadth, 

 wings extended, two feet eleven inches six lines. 



DESCRIPT. Facial circle white: all the upper parts bright tawny 

 yellow, variegated with fine zigzag lines of brown and gray, and sprinkled 

 with numerous white dots : under parts pure white, or with a faint tinge 

 of reddish yellow, occasionally speckled with a few brownish points : bill 

 and claws yellowish white: irides bluish black. (Egg.) Dull whiter 

 long. diam. one inch six lines; trans, diam. one inch three lines. 



Common in every part of the kingdom. Frequents churches and the 

 eaves of old buildings, where it breeds, laying from three to five eggs. 

 Habits nocturnal: comes abroad about sunset. Feeds principally on 

 mice, but will occasionally devour other of the smaller quadrupeds : 

 rejects the shrew. Screams in its flight, but does not hoot. 



GEN. 10. SYRNIUM, Sav. 



25. S. Aluco, Nob. (Tawny Owl.) Upper plumage 

 reddish brown, variegated with black and ash-gray : scapu- 

 lars and wing-coverts spotted with white : under parts white, 

 with reddish bars, and longitudinal dusky streaks. 



Strix Aluco, Temm. Man. cTOrn. torn. i. p. 89. Tawny Owl, Mont. 

 Orn. Diet. Selb. Illust. vol. i. p. 102. pi. 25. Betv. Brit. Birds, 

 vol. i. p. 63. 



DIMENS. Entire length sixteen inches : length of the bill (from the 

 forehead) one inch four lines, (from the gape) one inch six lines ; of the 

 tarsus two inches; of the tail six inches eight lines; from the carpus to 

 the end of the wing ten inches ten lines : breadth, wings extended, three 

 feet. 



DESCRIPT. Head large : facial circle white, with a tinge of reddish 

 brown : upper parts of the plumage ferruginous brown, variously marked 

 and spotted with dark brown, black, and ash-gray : several large white 

 spots upon the scapulars and wing-coverts, disposed in rows : under parts 

 white, with transverse bars of reddish brown, and longitudinal dusky 

 streaks on the shafts of the feathers : quills barred alternately with 

 dusky and tawny brown : two middle tail-feathers of a uniform tawny 

 brown ; the others barred like the quills : bill yellowish white : eyes very 

 large: irides bluish black. (Female.) General colour more ferruginous 

 than in the male, with less white : the transverse bars on the wings and 

 tail alternately red and brown. (Egg.) Smooth: dull white : long. diam. 

 one inch ten lines ; trans, diam. one inch six lines. 



Equally common with the last species, but found only in woods. Builds 

 in the hollows of old trees, or amongst ivy, and lays four eggs, which are 

 hatched in the beginning of April. Preys upon various small quadrupeds 

 and birds. Comes abroad only during the night, and has a clamorous 

 hooting note. 



GEN. 11. NOCTUA, Sav. 

 (1. SURNIA, Selby.) 



26. N. nyctea, Nob. (Snowy Owl.) Plumage snow- 

 white, more or less marked with transverse brown bars. 



