116 HISTORY OF 



more closely, however, he will be found much less. 

 His legs, body, wings, and tail, are shorter ; his 

 head much larger and thicker ; his horns are com- 

 posed of feathers that rise above two inches and 

 a half high, and which he can erect or depress at 

 pleasure ; his eyes are large and transparent, en- 

 circled with an orange-coloured iris ; his ears are 

 large and deep, and it would appear that no 

 animal is possessed with a more exquisite sense 

 of hearing ; his plumage is of a reddish-brown, 

 marked on the back with black and yellow spots, 

 and yellow only upon the belly. 



Next to this is the Common Horned Owl, of a 

 much smaller size than the former, and with horns 

 much shorter. As the great owl was five feet 

 from the tip of one wing to the other, this is but 

 three. The horns are but about an inch long, 

 and consist of six feathers, variegated with black 

 and yellow. 



There is still a smaller kind of the horned owl, 

 which is not much larger than a blackbird ; and 

 whose horns are remarkably short, being com- 

 posed but of one feather, and that not above half 

 an inch high. 



To these succeeds the tribe without horns. 

 The Howlet, which is the largest of this kind, 

 with dusky plumes, and black eyes ; the Screech- 

 owl, of a smaller size, with blue eyes, and 

 plumage of an iron-grey ; the White Owl, about 

 as large as the former, with yellow eyes, and 

 whitish plumage ; the Great Brown Owl, less than 

 the former, with brown plumage, and a brown 

 beak ; and lastly, the Little Brown Owl, with yel- 



