233 



SCOPS HORNED OWL. 



Strix Scops. S. auriculata griseo-fusca, subferrugineo ntgroque 



•varia, subtus cinerea nigro varia. 

 Grey-brown Homed Owl, with subferruginous and black 



variegations, beneath grey with black variegations. 

 Strix Scops. S. capite auriculato penna solitaria. Lin. Syst, 



Nat. 

 Scops ou Petit Due. Buff. ois. I. p. 353. pi. 24. 

 Le Petit Due. PI. Enl. 436. 

 Scops Eared Owl. Lath. syn. 



This is a species of uncommon elegance, and of 

 very small size, measuring only about seven inches 

 and a quarter in length*. The general disposition 

 of its colours is similar to that of the Eagle Owl, 

 but with a greater mixture of grey, which predo- 

 minates on the breast and belly of the bird: it 

 varies however considerably in the cast of its co- 

 lours according to various circumstances of age 

 and sex, and when young is said to be wholly grey : 

 the irides are also said to be pale yellow in the 

 young, and deep yellow, or even hazel in the old 

 birds: the legs are covered to the toes with speckled 

 grey and brown plumes: the auricular plumes, 

 which are erroneously stated by Linnseus (who has 

 even founded his specific character of the bird on 

 that very circumstance) as only one on each side, 

 are in reality composed of six on each side, accord- 



* The measure assigned by Aldrovandus is nine inches, and he 

 adds that the bird is smaller than a pigeon, but larger than a 



inrush. 



