94 AVES RAPTORES. [Noc-ruA. 



Strix nyctea, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. i. p. 82. Snowy Owl, Mont. 

 Orn. Diet. Supp. App. Selb. Illust. vol. i. p. 95. pi. 23. Bew. 

 Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 54. 



DIMENS. Entire length (female) two feet one inch: breadth, wings 

 extended, five feet. Male of inferior size. SELBY. 



DESCRIPT. Head small : plumage above and below snow-white, more 

 or less variegated with brown spots and transverse bars, which are largest 

 and most conspicuous in immature birds ; in very old individuals (males 

 more especially) these spots wholly disappear, leaving the entire plumage 

 pure white : bill black, almost concealed by the bristly feathers at its 

 base : irides bright orange-yellow : tail rounded, rather short, extending 

 nearly two inches beyond the folded wings : legs and toes very thickly 

 clothed with hair-like feathers partly concealing the claws. (Egg.) Pure 

 white. 



Found in the Orkney and Shetland Isles, where it remains the whole 

 year. Very rare in England. Has been killed in Northumberland, and 

 even as far south as in Norfolk. In the latter county it has occurred 

 twice. Habits said to be diurnal. Food hares, rats, mice, grouse, and 

 other birds. Builds in rocky situations, and lays two eggs. 



(2. NOCTUA, Selby.) 



27. N. passerina, Selby. (Little Owl.) Tarsi fea- 

 thered ; toes thinly covered with a few white hairs. 



Strix passerina, Temm. Man. cTOrn. torn. i. p. 92. Little Owl, Mont. 

 Orn. Diet. Little Night-Owl, Selb. Illust. vol. i. p. 107. pi. 27. 



DIMENS. Entire length nine inches. TEMM. 



DESCRIPT. Facial circle mostly white : upper plumage grayish brown ; 

 head and nape rather thickly spotted with white ; wing-coverts and sca- 

 pulars with large irregular white spots of an oval-oblong form ; middle of 

 the back nearly free from spots ; sides of the nape much variegated with 

 white ; quills with a regular series of yellowish white spots on their outer 

 webs ; tail with alternate bars of brown and yellowish white : under parts 

 white, with oblong longitudinal spots of grayish brown ; chin and under 

 tail-coverts free from spots : tarsi clothed with short downy white fea- 

 thers ; longer (according to Selby) than in the next species ; toes thinly 

 covered with a few white hairs. (Egg.) Of a short oval form : white : 

 long. diam. one inch four lines ; trans, diam. one inch one line. 



A very rare and occasional visitant in this country. Has been killed 

 in a few instances, but from having been formerly confounded with the 

 next species, such instances can hardly be particularized with certainty. 

 Said to frequent towers and old buildings, in which situations it breeds, 

 laying from two to four eggs. Food, according to Temminck, mice, bats, 

 small birds, and insects. 



28. N. Tengmalmi, Selby. (Tengmalm's Owl.) Tarsi 

 and toes thickly clothed with downy feathers. 



Strix Tengmalmi, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. i. p. 94. Tengmalm's 

 Night-Owl, Selb. Illust. vol. i. p. 105. pi. 26. Little Owl, Bew. 

 Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 65. 



DIMENS. Entire length eight inches four lines. TEMM. 

 DESCRIPT. Facial circle more developed than in the last species; 

 blackish round the eyes, and at the base of the bill ; the rest of it white, 



