80 



THE SCOPS EARED OWL. 



called the Anstrian Riifous Owlet, or the Sparrow Owl. Although so small a creature, ita 

 food is the same as that of any of its larger relatives, consisting of small birds, bats, mice, and 

 various insects. The general color of this curious little Owl is clove-brown, banded and marked 



with yellowish-brown, gray, and white. It may 

 easily be distinguished from other Owls by the 

 legs, which are very long in proportion to the 

 dimensions of the bird, and instead of being feath- 

 ered dowm to the toes, are covered with very short 

 hair-like plumage, becoming very scanty over the 

 toes. It is easily domesticated, and in a tamed 

 state is so voracious that, according to Bechstein, 

 it can swallow five mice at a single meal. 



Another curious little Owl is the Te^^gmalm's 

 Owl, or Death Bird ; the latter name having 

 been given to it on account of a common sujjer- 

 stition that reigns among several of the North 

 American Indian tribes. When an Indian hears 

 one of these birds utteiing its melancholy cry, he 

 A\histles towards the spot from whence the sound 

 pro;ceeded, and if the bird does not answer him, he 

 looks for a speedy death. 



This species is at first sight not unlike the Little 

 Owl, but may be at once distinguished from that 

 bird by the structure of its legs and toes, and the 

 thick feathery coating with which they are clad. 

 It is a very common bird over the whole of the 

 inhabited portions of North America, but is frequently found in Norway, Sweden, Russia, 

 and even in Northern Prance and Italy. It is a nocturnal bird, seldom wandering from its 

 home diiring the hours of daylight, as it is almost blinded by the unaccustomed glare, and 

 may be easily captured by hand while thus bewildered. The nest of the Tengmalm's Owl is 

 generally made of grass, and is placed about half->vay up some convenient pine-tree. The 

 eggs are seldom more than two in number, are pure white in color, and not quite so globular 

 as is the case with the generality of Owls' eggs. 



The color of this bii'd is more rich and better defined than that of the Little Owl. Tlie 

 whole of the ujiper parts of the body are a rich chocolate-bro\Am, dotted and splashed with 

 many white markings, which are very minute ujion the top of tlie head, and larger upon the 

 back and wings, some indeed being arranged on the lower portions of the wings so as to foi-m 

 irregular stripes. Similar white spots are placed on the tail, which is usually of a dark brown. 

 The eye disk is grayish-white, excepting a bold black -brown ring just round the eye. The 

 under portions of the body are grayish-white, covered with numerous bro^vn bars and s])ots, 

 and the phi mage of the legs and toes is also gray-white sprinkled with brown spots. The size 

 of the Tengmalm's Owl is nearly the same as that of the Little Owl. 







??= <^ 



LITTLE OWL.- 



Athene pasfej-ina. 



We now arrive at a large group of Owls which are remarkable for two tufts of feathers 

 which rise from the head, and occupy nearly tlie same relative position as the ears of quad- 

 rupeds. These "ears," as they are called, have, however, nothing to do with the organs of 

 hearing, but are simply tufts of feathers, which can be raised or depressed at the will of the 

 bird, and give a most singular expression to the countenance. 



The first of these birds is the Scops Eared Owl, a most singular little creature, which 

 js sometimes, though rarely, taken in England, aud has therefore been placed in the catalogue 

 of British Birds. 



The geographical range of this species is very great, specimens now in the museums having 

 been taken in Germany and several parts of Europe, India, Malacca, China, Gambia, and the 



