The Owl Family. 45 



European species, do not often occur in these Islands 

 of their own free will, at all events and the third is a 

 South American species that from the date of its 

 first discovery by Europeans has attracted the atten- 

 tion of naturalists in no small degree from its pecu- 

 liar habits. 



THE SCOPS OWL, Scops giu } is found in consider- 

 able numbers in the South of Europe, on the 

 borders of the Mediterranean, and is very docile and 

 amusing in confinement, for it comes forth at twilight 

 and flies about lightly and swiftly, catching moths and 

 other nocturnal insects on the wing. It is a charming 

 little bird, about the size of a missel thrush, and nests 

 freely in confinement, though the young are not 

 always reared. Its diet Consists of meat, especially 

 the flesh of small birds ; insects, such as moths, 

 mealworms, and cockroaches; and ants' eggs, upon 

 which it will thrive and live for a long time in health 

 and contentment. 



Mr. R. Phillipps, a close observer as well as a 

 great lover of birds,, sends me the following inte- 

 resting account for publication. He says : " One is 

 apt to associate the Owl with a ferocious, bloodthirsty 

 creature, but the Scops is a very gentle little fellow, 

 and need not alarm the most timid of bird-lovers. 

 When young, Scops Owls fly so gently, so butterfly- 

 like, that it seems as if they never could be strong 

 of flight; but the adult birds are strong and rapid 

 on the wing as, indeed, they have need to be, for 

 they feed largely on moths, which they catch cleverly 

 in the air. 



" The Scops is an insect-eater, and will pounce on 



