196 BIRDS. HAPACES. 



S. Uralensis, Pallas. (Sitrnia, Dumeril.) Head very large, much 

 feathered, of a grayish white, with some black hairs ; a broad 

 circle of white feathers spotted with black surrounding the face ; 

 lop of the head, neck, back, and coverts of the wings with large 

 longitudinal spots ; wings and tail banded with brown and white ; 

 bill yellow, entirely concealed in the long hairs of the face ; 

 claws long, yellowish ; tail much longer than the wings. Ten 

 inches long. Inhabits Northern Europe. Shaw, vii. pi. 35. 



S.funerea, Lath. Forehead dotted with white and brown ; a black 

 band behind the eyes and surrounding the orifice of the ears ; 

 upper parts of the body with brown and white spots of various- 

 forms ; lower parts white, banded transversely with brown ash- 

 colour ; iris and bill yellow ; feet feathered to the nails. Fourteen 

 inches long. Inhabits the Arctic regions. Tern. Man. 86. 



S. nebulosa,lit\i\.. (Ulula, Cuv.) Barred Owl. Transversely fasciated 

 with brown and whitish above, with oblong ferruginous spots be- 

 neath ; extremity of the toes covered with scales ; bill yellow ; iris 

 brown. Length 20 inches. Arctic regions. Shaw, vii. 245. 



S. stridula, Gmel. (S. aluco, Meyer.) Common Brown Owl. Fer- 

 ruginous, or gray brown ; wing-coverts spotted with white ; 

 feathers of the wings arid tail banded transversely with blackish 

 and reddish ash-colour ; iris glaucous ; feet feathered to the toes. 

 About 15 inches long. Selby, Illust. pi. 25. 



This species is a native of most of the countries of Europe, and is also found in 

 Newfoundland and South America, frequenting large and dense forests, and con- 

 cealing itself in the thickest recesses. It breeds in the hollows of trees, and some- 

 times in barns and granaries, in which it is -welcomed by the farmer, on account of 

 the numbers of mice which it destroys ; but it is a far less acceptable visitor in 

 pigeon houses, in which it commits serious devastations. It lays from two to four 

 eggs, of a dull white, and of a roundish shape. The young are covered with a 

 light- coloured down, and soon become tame, if fed from the hand. If put out of 

 doors within hearing of the parent birds the mother visits them at night, and sup- 

 plies them with ample provision. This is one of the most common of the British 

 owls, and the only one of them which hoots, inflating its throat, at the same time 

 to the size of a hen's egg. 



S. flammea, Lin. Common Barn Owl. Sub-fulvous, variegated with 

 gray and brown ; black and white spots down the shafts of the 

 feathers; breast and abdomen white; feet and toes covered with a 

 short down ; iris yellow. 13 inches long. Selby, Illust. pi. 24. 

 This species is very widely diffused, and is found in most parts of the world. It 

 usually haunts old churches, towers, barns, farm-houses, &c. and preys on rats, 

 mice, bats, and beetles. In fine weather it generally leaves its haunts about twi- 

 light, skimming along the ground, exploring the neighbouring woods for prey, 

 and returning before sunrise, not hooting, but repeating a sort of blowing noise, 

 like the snoring of a man who sleeps with his mouth open. Its sharper notes are of- 

 ten interpreted by the superstitious as the presage of approaching dissolution. 



S. passerina, Tem. Passerine or Little Owl. Plumage grayish- 

 brown, with irregular whitish spots above ; whitish, with brown 

 spots beneath ; breast pure white ; irides yellow ; toes thinly 

 covered with white hairs. About nine inches in length. Inhabits 

 Europe. B, -&%, Illust. pi. 2,6. 



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