330 



Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 43. fig. 3 ; Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 41 ; id. B. of G. Brit. i. 

 pi. 33 ; Boux, Orn. Prov. pi. 48. 



Ad. supra cinereus, brunnesceute cervino et ochrascente cervino lavatus, plumis exquisite nigro-fusco vermi- 

 culatis : pileo rnagis rufescente, plumis centraliter nigro-fusco striatis : nucha indistincte albido notata : 

 corpore supra nigro-fusco striato : scapularibus albo notatis : remigibus primariis in pogonio externo 

 albo et albicante cervino fasciatis : Cauda nigro, fulvido et fulvescente cervino fasciata, et nigro-fusco 

 vermiculata : corpore subtus griseo-albo, imo paflidiore, ubique nigro-fusco vermiculato et conspicue 

 nigro-fusco striato : facie griseo-alba, griseo punctata et vix brunneo notata, plumis elongatis pilei 

 lateralibus in pogonio interno albis : fascia in colli latere utroque nigro-fusca, plumis ad basin albican- 

 tibus et rufescenti-cervinis : rostro nigro : iride flava : tarsis pennatis, pedibus fuscis, unguibus nigri- 

 cantibus, ad basin fere albis. 



Adult Male (Seville, 30th April) . Upper parts greyisb varied with orange or brownish buff, the crown 

 washed with pale reddish buff; all the feathers on the crown with a central black stripe, which widens 

 towards the base ; ear-tufts like the other feathers, but greyish white on the inner web ; on the back of 

 the head is an indistinct greyish band ; feathers on the back and upper parts generally greyer than on 

 the head, more sparingly striped with black, and all minutely vermiculated with dark brown ; some of 

 the scapulars boldly marked with white ; primary quills on the outer web dark greyish brown slightly 

 washed with orange-buff and barred with white, these bars being here and there tinged with orange- 

 buff ; on the inner web deep sooty grey, towards the tip barred with light brownish grey, and on the 

 basal and outer portion of the web marked with dull white blotches ; secondaries similar, but more like 

 the back in colour, and the white bars on the outer webs are wanting ; wing-coverts varied with brown, 

 the larger ones spotted with white on the outer web ; tail light brownish, vermiculated with dark brown 

 and barred with dull fulvous margined with dark brown, these bars becoming whitish towards the tip ; 

 facial disk grey, minutely speckled with greyish white and a little brown ; entire underparts greyish 

 white, finely but irregularly vermiculated with greyish brown and varied with pale brown ; breast and 

 flanks broadly blotched here and there, and abdomen sparingly striped with blackish brown ; below the 

 auriculars a band of black feathers extends below to the sides of the neck, the feathers being whitish or 

 fulvous at the base ; lower abdomen whiter than the rest of the underparts ; beak black ; iris yellow j 

 claws blackish towards the tip but nearly white at the base. Total length about 7'5 inches, culmen - 7, 

 wing 5'7, tail 2 - 75, tarsus TO. 



Adult Female. Resembles the male, but is rather larger in size. 



Young. Differs from the adult merely in being rather more rufous in tinge of colour. 



In Europe the present species inhabits the southern portion of the continent during the summer 

 season, straggling, however, as far north as -the British Isles ; and during the winter it retires to 

 North Africa. In Asia it is met with as far east as Turkestan, and very closely allied forms are 

 met with as far east as Japan. 



In Great Britain it is known only as a rare straggler. Professor Newton, referring to the 

 various instances on record of its occurrence in England, writes (Yarr. Brit. B. i. p. 174) as 

 follows : — " The example of this little Owl, which was figured by Selby, was taken near London ; 

 and I am indebted to Mr. Joseph Clarke, of Saffron Walden, for the knowledge of the occurrence 

 of two specimens on the estate of Lord Braybrooke, at Audley End, in Essex, all three having 



