STBIX. BIRDS. 195 



S. brachyotos, Lath. Short-eared Owl. Head small, with two or 

 three short feathers on the forehead, forming a kind of horns ; 

 around the eyes blackish ; plumage above ferruginous, bordered 

 with ochre yellow ; tail of the same colour, with transverse brown 

 bands ; bill black ; iris yellow ; legs and toes feathered. Twelve 

 inches long. Inhabits Europe. B. Selby, Illust. pi. 21. 



S. atricapilla, Natterer. (Scops, Savigny.) Crown of the head 

 black, with the body above, wings, and tail yellowish, varied 

 with black and brown ; white below, longitudinally spotted and 

 striped with brown ; feathers at the ears white, pencilled with 

 black; a reddish collar on the nape of the neck. Ten inches long. 

 Inhabits Brazil -Shaw, xiii. pi. 39. 



S. nociula, Reinwardt. Plumage black or brownish, marbled with 

 reddish; beneath reddish white, transversely waved and spot- 

 ted ; a double collar on the neck, white above, with brown spots, 

 black below, with reddish white spots. Eight inches long. In- 

 habits Java. Tern. PL Col. 99. 



S. Ceylonensis, Lath. ( S. Ketupa, Horsf.) Auricular feathers short 

 and pointed ; body brownish black above, paler be*low ; feathers 

 round the face brown, banded with black ; wing and tail-feathers 

 with transverse lines of black and white ; legs almost naked; 

 claws and bill of a dark colour. Ceylon Tern, PL Col. 74. 



S. lac tea, Tern. Plumage white above, variegated with brown and 

 striped with griseous and white ; beneath waved with brown ; tail 

 and quill-feathers banded with yellow ; tarsi white ; toes blue. 

 Two feet long. Inhabits Senegal. Tern. PL Col. 4. 



S. ascalapkus, Savigny. (Otus ascalaphus, Cuv.) Plumage rusty red, 

 spotted with brown; wings and back vermiculated and the belly 

 transversely lineated with brown ; ear- feathers short. Eighteen 

 inches long. Inhabits Africa. Tern. PL Col. 57. 



ft Smooth-headed Owls. 



S. Lapponica, Retz. Head very large; face broad, covered with 

 long feathers of a pure gray with brown bands, a broad circle of 

 blackish feathers surrounding the face ; upper part of the body 

 and wings of a fine gray, marked with numerous zigzag spots 

 of dirty brown ; tail almost equal, much longer than the wings ; 

 tail and wing feathers banded with brown ; feet feathered to 

 the toes. About two feet long. Inhabits Lapland.- Tern. 82. 



S. nyctea,~Lin The Snowy Owl. Plumage snow-white, spotted with 

 transverse brown bands; head small ; bill black ; irides yellow. 

 About two feet long. Inhabits Northern Europe and America. 

 B.~Selby, Illust. pi. 23. 



This species is not uncommon in Shetland; and a male and female were taken 

 in Northumberland in January 1823, during a severe snow storm. It preys on 

 grouse, hares, rabbits, carrion, &c. nestles in craggy rocks or old pines, and 

 lays two white round eggs, which, according to Vieillot, are spotted with black. 

 Its cry has been compared to that of a man in deep distress. Among the Kalmuc 

 Tartars it is deemed a crime to kill them, because they are considered to be the ora- 

 cles of good or bad fortune, according as they fly to the right or to the left. 



