OWLS. 351 



which it fed readily. I kept the bird caged for about two 

 weeks, during which time it became quite tame, but would 

 not tolerate handling, always threatening me with its beak 

 when my hands approached it. As the wires of its cage broke 

 its feathers when moving about, and as it hardly seemed re- 

 signed to confinement, I opened its cage and gave it the free- 

 dom of the room, leaving the windows open night and day. 

 About this time I gave it the name of ' Scops,' to which in a 

 little while it would answer, when called, with a low rattle, 

 which sounded like the distant note of the Kingfisher. 



" When a bird is given it for food, it takes it in its claws, 

 and with its beak invariably pulls out the wing and tail feath- 

 ers first, then eats the head, then devours the intestines ; 

 then, if not satisfied, it eats the remainder of the bird, feath- 

 ers and all. 



" That this Owl sees tolerably well in the day-time I have 

 proved to my satisfaction. I caught a mouse and put it alive 

 into an open box about two feet square. This I placed upon 

 a bench near Scops, who was attentively watching my move- 

 ments ; the moment it saw the mouse, the Owl opened its eyes 

 wide, bent forward, moved its head from side to side, then 

 came down with an unerring aim, burying its talons deep in 

 the head and back of the mouse. Looking up into my face, 

 and uttering its rattling note, as if inquiring, ' Is n't that 

 well done ? ' it flew back to its perch with its struggling prey 

 grasped firmly in its talons, where it killed the mouse by 

 biting it in the head and back. During the whole act it dis- 

 played considerable energy and excitement. 



" Scops will, in taking birds from my hand, almost always 

 look up in my face and utter its subdued rattle. In sleeping, 

 it usually stands on one foot, both eyes shut, but sometimes 

 stretches out at full length, resting on its breast. When 

 sound asleep it awakes instantly on its name being pronounced, 

 and will answer as quickly as when awake. I have heard it 

 utter its peculiar quavering note on one or two occasions, 

 which, notwithstanding its reputed mournfulness, has much 



