128 STRIGID^l. 



served of its habits here. It is believed, and with reason, 

 to be migratory, visiting us in summer, and retiring, be- 

 fore the cold weather commences, to the south of Europe 

 and to North Africa. It is said to be strictly nocturnal, 

 feeding upon mice, beetles, and large moths. It forms a 

 simple nest in the fissures of rocks, or in holes of trees, 

 laying from two to four or five eggs, which are white, one 

 inch three lines in length, by one inch and half a line in 

 breadth. 



One example of this little Owl was taken some time 

 since near London ; another in Buckinghamshire, and I 

 am indebted to Mr. Joseph Clarke, of Saffron Walden, 

 for the knowledge of the occurrence of two specimens on 

 the estate of Lord Braybrooke, at Audley End in Essex. 

 Dr. Hastings, in his Natural History of "Worcestershire, 

 notices one that was taken alive near Fladbury, and 

 brought to the residence of the late Mrs. Perrot, at 

 Chantry. One shot in Yorkshire, is said to be in the 

 collection of Mr. Foljambe of Osberton ; a second, shot 

 near Wetherby in the spring of 1805, is in the collection 

 of Mr. Fothergill of York ; and a third example, also 

 shot in Yorkshire, is recorded by Mr. Selby to have been in 

 the possession of the late Mr. Thomas Bewick. My friend 

 Mr. John Hogg of the Temple, in his Natural History 

 of the vicinity of Stockton-on-Tees, says of the Scops, 

 that it " breeds in Castle Eden Dene. Mr. Winch informs 

 me, that he has seen young birds just taken from the nest 

 by the woodman." From Sir William Jardine and Dr. 

 Alexander Smith, I have learned that one was killed in 

 Sutherlandshire in June, 1854. 



This little species, though inhabiting an extensive range 

 in different countries, is confined to the temperate and 

 warmer parts of the Old World, where insects are known 

 to abound. Mr. Gould, in his Birds of Europe, says it 



