SCOPS EARED OWL. Ail 
curred. It is, however, so rare, that little has been ob- 
served of its habits here. It is believed, and with reason, 
to be migratory, visitimg us in summer, and retirmg, be- 
fore the cold weather commences, to the south of Hurope 
and to North Africa. It is said to be strictly nocturnal, 
feeding upon mice, beetles, and large moths. It forms a 
simple nest in the fissures of rocks, or m holes of trees, 
laying from two to four or five eggs, which are white, one 
inch three lines in length, by one inch and half a line in 
breadth. 
One example of this little Owl was taken some time 
since near London; and I am indebted to Mr. Joseph 
Clarke, of Saffron Walden, for the knowledge of the oc- 
currence of two specimens on the estate of Lord Bray- 
brooke, at Audley End in Essex. Dr. Hastings, in his Na- 
tural History of Worcestershire, notices one that was taken 
alive near Fladbury, and brought to the residence of the 
late Mrs. Perrot, at Chantry. One shot in Yorkshire, is 
said to be in the collection of Mr. Foljambe of Osberton ; 
a second, shot near Wetherby in the spring of 1805, is in 
the collection of Mr. Fothergill of York; and a third ex- 
ample, also shot in Yorkshire, is recorded by Mr. Selby to 
have been in the possession of the late Mr. Thomas Bewick. 
My friend Mr. John Hogg of the Temple, in his Natural 
History of the vicinity of Stockton-on-Tees, says of the 
Scops, that it “‘ breeds in Castle Eden Dene. Mr. Winch 
informs me, that he has seen young birds just taken from 
the nest by the woodman.”—Page 4. 
This little species, though inhabiting an extensive range 
in different countries, is confined to the temperate and 
warmer parts of the Old World, where insects are known to 
abound. Mr. Gould, in his Birds of Europe, says it is 
found in Asia. It does not visit the North of Europe even 
in summer, but is found at that season in the southern 
