8. STRIDULA. \ M ) TAWNEY, 



TTTTTT A C fMONTAGU. X 



ULULA. Syn. J v- BROWN, OR 



SYLVATICA. SHAW. 3 



WOOD OWL. 



S. Capite lavi, corpore ferruyineo, remige lertio Ion- 

 giore. Lin. 



S. Ferrugineo sen griseo-fusca nigro varia, tectricibus 

 albo maculatis, oculis glaucis. Shaw. 



The bill is light brown ; irides dark, and very 

 large ; the head, neck, back, wing coverts, and sca- 

 pulars are tawney brown, spotted with brown and 

 black ; on the wing coverts are three rows of large 

 white spots ; the breast and belly are yellow, streak- 

 ed with brown ; the toes are dusky. 



Length 15 inches ; weight 19oz. 



It is the only British owl that hoots, when it in- 

 flates the throat to the size of a hen's egg. 



The female lays 2 or 3 dull white eggs, without 

 gloss. 



Its food is leverets, moles, &c. which it skins be- 

 fore eating. 



