BRITISH BIRDS. 



55 



THE TAWNY OWL. 



COMMON BROWN IVY OWL, OR HOWLET. 



(Strix aluco y Meyer. Chouette hulotte, Temm.) 



THE bill is white, eyes dark blue; the radiated 

 feathers round the eyes are white, finely streaked 

 with brown ; the head, neck, back, wing coverts 

 and scapulars, are tawny brown, finely powdered 

 and spotted with dark brown and black : on the 

 wing coverts and scapulars, are several large white 

 spots, regularly placed, so as to form three rows ; 

 the quill feathers are marked w r ith alternate bars of 

 light and dark brown ; the breast and belly are 

 pale yellow, marked with narrow dark streaks 



