LITTLE OWLS. 



159 



becomes more active and vigilant. It seldom liaunts forests, but frequents old 

 buildings, towers, and church walls, where, as well as in hollow trees and even in 

 a rabbit-hole, its nest is found." The number of eggs varies from three to five, and 

 both sexes take their share in incubation. No nest is formed. In Italy the flesh 

 of this owlet is commonly eaten ; and this species has a peculiar interest as being 

 the owl associated with the goddess Pallas in classical literature. In Persia, Mr. 

 Blanford states that he has often seen five or six individuals of the pale-coloured 

 desert variety in company ; and almost every garden in that country has a pair, 

 whose melancholy cries are regularly heard at night. 



In India the genus is represented by the spotted owlet (C braina), in which 



LITTLE OWL (§ iiat. size). 



the under-parts are barred, instead of streaked, and the general colour above greyish 

 brown, with large and distinct white spots, and five bars on the tail. To the east- 

 ward of the Bay of Bengal there is a variety of this species, in which the ground- 

 colour of the upper-parts is slat}' brown, and the white spots very small, while 

 the tail has six bars. Jerdon says that the spotted owlet is to be found everywhere 

 in India except in dense forests. " Every clump of trees, and often a large single 

 tree, especially near a village, is sure to be tenanted by a pair, or a small colony of 

 these noisy birds. It often takes up its abode cind roosts during the day in the 

 eaves of houses, or under the roof ; and if anything disturbs its rest, comes forth 

 with its noisy, chattering, and disagreeable chorus. About sunset it is always on 

 the alert, and soon after it sallies forth to feed. It takes short flights, frequently 



