310 LITTLE OWL. 
deficiency of size, and 1s, perhaps, the most shapely of all our Owls. 
Nor are the colors and markings of its plumage infer.or in simplicity 
and effect to most others. ‘It also possesses an eye fully equal in 
spirit and brilliancy to the best of them. 
This species is a general and constant inhabitant of the middle and 
northern states; but is found most numerous in the neighborhood of 
the sea-shore, and among woods and swamps of pine‘trees. It rarely 
rambles much during day; but, if disturbed, flies a short way, and 
again takes shelter from the light; at the approach of twilight it is all 
life and activity, being a noted and dexterous mouse-catcher, It is 
found as far north as Nova Scotia, and even Hudson’s Bay; is frequent 
in Russia; builds its nest generally in pines, half way up the tree, and 
lays two eggs, which, like those of the rest’ of: its genus, are white. 
The melancholy and gloomy umbrage of those solitary evergreens 
forms its favorite haunts, where it sits dozing and slumbering all day, 
lulled by the roar of the neighboring ocean. ae aes 
The Little Owl is seven inches and a half long, and eighteen inches 
in extent; the upper parts are a plain brown olive, the scapulars and 
some of the greater and lesser coverts being spotted with white ; the 
first five primaries’are crossed obliquely with five bars of white; tail, 
rounded, rather darker than the body, crossed with two rows, of white 
spots, and tipped with white;, whole interior vahes of the wings, 
spotted with the same; auriculars, yellowish brown; crown, upper 
part of the neck, and circle surrounding the ears, beautifully marked 
with numerons points of white on an olive brown ground ; front, pure 
white, ending. in long blackish hairs ; at the internal angle of the eyes, 
a broad spot’ of black radiating outwards ; irides, pale yellow; bill,a 
blackish horn color; lower parts, streaked with yellow ochre and 
reddish bay; thighs, and feathered legs, pale buff; toes, covered to 
the claws, which are black, large, and sharp-pointed. 
The bird, from which figure 150 was taken, was shot. on the sea- 
shore, near Great Egg Harbor, in New Jersey, in the month of No- 
vember, and, on dissection, was found to bea female. Turton describes 
a species called the White-fronted Owl, (S. albifrons,) which, in every 
thing except the size, agrees with this bird, and has, very probably, 
though rarely, but is plentiful in Livonia. Bonaparte hints at the probability of the 
St. passerina being yet discovered in America, which seems very likely, consider- 
ing the similarity of its European haunts. The last overland arctic expedition met 
with this and another allied species, St. Tengmalnii, which will rank as an addition 
to the ornithology of that continent. Dr. Bickentoes has the following observations 
regarding the latter: “When it accidentally wanders abroad in the day, it is so 
much dazzled by the light of the sun as to become stupid, and it may be easily 
- ecaught by the hand. Its ery inthe night is a single melancholy note, repeated at 
intervals of a minute or two, and it is.one of the superstitious practices of the na- 
tives to whistle when they hear it. If the bird is silent when thus challenged, the 
5 ey death of the inquirer is thus augured ; hence its Cree appellation of Death 
era. 
On the banks of the Sascatchewan it is so common, that its Voice is heard almost 
every night by the traveller, wherever he selects his Eivouack. . : 
_ Both the latter species extend over the north of E:trope, and are found occa- 
sionally in Britain. The specimens which I have seen in confinernent seem to slee 
or doze away the morning and forenoon, but are remarkably active when roused, 
and move about with oe agility. Both are often exposed for sale, with other 
birds, in the Dutch and Belgian markets. — Ep. 
