163 



LITTLE OWL. 



LITTLE NIGHT OWL. 



Strix passerina, LIXNJJUS. LATHAM. 



" nudtpes, XiLLSOX. JARDINE. 



" dast/pus, MEYER. 



Xoctua passerina, JEXYXS. SELBY. 



" nudipes, GOULD. 



StrixSome species of Owl. Passerina. Passer 

 A Sparrow. 



'Tins' says Wilson, 'is one of the least of the whole genus ; 

 but, like many other little folks, makes up in neatness of 

 general form and appearance for deficiency of size, and is, 

 perhaps, the most shapely of all our Owls.' 



The Little Owl is common in Russia, Germany, Holland, 

 Switzerland, Spain, Greece, and the Levant; and in the northern 

 parts of North America, according to Wilson, but his description 

 seems to me to be utterly inapplicable to the bird before us. 



Two were taken in chimneys many years ago, in the parish 

 of Lambeth. One was seen in Wiltshire, nailed up against 

 a barn door, and probably many another has adorned the 

 'gamekeeper's museum.' Three are recorded to have been met 

 with in Devonshire; one in Worcestershire; one in Flintshire; 

 one near Bristol; a pair bred near Norwich, and two other 

 specimens have been authenticated in Norfolk. One was shot 

 at Widrington, in Northumberland, in January, 1812. One 

 was on sale in July, 1842, in the Brighton market, and said 

 to have been shot in an orchard at Sheffield Park, near 

 Fletching: it was believed from the light colour of its plumage 

 to be a young bird. One was caught near Derby, which lived 

 a long time in captivity, becoming so far tame as to know 

 those who fed it: it used to drink much. Two others were 

 met with in the parish of Melbourne, in the same county j 



