256 CLASS AVES. 



state of the specimen under his observation, and, hke all 

 other errors of eminent men, has induced many more ; for 

 several have been named as distinct species with reference to 

 the feathers of the crest, which seem to have no real preten- 

 sions to distinctive separation. 



The Scops is extensively located, but seems rare every where. 

 It has been said not to be British, but Dr. Latham denies that 

 assertion. It builds on the branches of trees, and lays two or 

 four round white eggs. It seems questionable whether this 

 species be migratory. 



The red-eared Owl of Pennant and Latham, or (Scops of 

 Carolina, (^Strix Asio, Gm.) has the bill horn colour, and the 

 irides saffron ; the plumage, on the upper parts, bright ferrugi- 

 nous red ; the feathers round the eyes are red, but the inner 

 half is surrounded with white, meeting over the nostrils. 



This species inhabits North America, from New York to the 

 Carolinas. In summer, it remains in the woods, but in winter 

 it frequents the houses in Pennsylvania and New York, and 

 quickly clears the granaries of rats and mice ; their eyes are 

 so completely dazzled by the light of the sun, that they suffer 

 themselves helplessly to be taken with the hand. They build 

 in the clefts of trees, and are said to be monogamous. 



We proceed to notice a few of the species with smooth heads, 

 or destitute of the tufts, called ears. 



The Snowy Owl, {Strix nyctea, Lin.,) is as big as the great 

 horned species, but the head is smaller. The general plumage 

 of this bird is of a dead white, varied with small brownish spots 

 on the head, with transverse dorsal bars of the same tint under 

 the wing and on the tail, but even the partial colouring is said 

 to give place to an uniform white in winter. This species is an 

 inhabitant of high northern latitudes, though Mr. Bullock 

 states, that he saw one in the Orkney Islands. On the shores 

 of Hudson's Bay, where this bird continues the whole year, it 

 pursues in open day the ptarmigan, hares, and smaller ro- 

 dentia It builds on elevated rocks, even in these inhospitable 



