Eaued-Owl. RAPTORES. SCOPS. 93 



In consequence of a few well authenticated instances of 

 this handsome little Owl having been lately taken in Eng- 

 land, I have ventured to insert it as an occasional visitant, Occasional 

 and to give a representation of one obtained, as I am assu- ^^^"'^"*' 

 red, in the neighbourhood of London*. — It is very common 

 in the wai'mer parts of Europe during the summer months, 

 but regularly leaves them on the approach of autumn, for 

 regions nearer to the equator. In France, it arrives, and de- 

 parts with the swallow. Its favourite residence in Italy, ac- 

 cording to Spallanzani, is in the lower wooded regions, — 

 Field and shrew mice, insects, and earth-worms, are its food. Food, 

 in quest of which it sallies forth at night-fall, uttering at the 

 same time its cry, which resembles the word chivi, and 

 whence, in some districts, it has acquired the name of Chi- 

 vini. It constructs no nest, but deposits five or six eggs in 

 the hollow of a tree. 



An interesting; account of the habits and manners of this 

 bird is given by the above-mentioned author, who reared and 

 domesticated several nestlings. From the few species of 

 Strigidas to be met with in our collections rendering fruitless 

 any attempt at analysis, and the very slight attention that 

 has hitherto been paid to the peculiar characters and econo- 

 my of these interesting birds, I am prevented in the wish to 

 trace the direct affinities of this species, or the relation that 

 the group it belongs to is likely to bear to others, in the cir- 

 cular arrangement of the family. It is to be hoped that the 

 labours of some of the ornithologists of the present day will 

 speedily be directed to this point. 



Plate 22. Figure of the natural size. 



Bill black. Irides kingVyellow. Head, face, and neck, General 

 smoke-grey, beautifully speckled with black and brown. 

 Breast and belly ash-grey, barred and speckled with 



• I have seen a specimen which was killed near York, and is now in the 

 possession of that ingenious artist Mr Bewick. The Foljambe Collection 

 also possesses English specimens of this species. 



tion 



