LEAST EUROPEAN SPARROW OWL. 127 



is designated Strix passcrina by Wilson, and XJlula 

 acadica by Audubon. 



Athene perlata, figured and described by Le Vaillant, 

 in his "Oiseaux d' Afrique." This is the Noctua occip- 

 italis of Cuvier, the Strix perlata of Vieillot, and the 

 S. occipitalis of Temminck. 



This beautiful species is apparently but little larger 

 than S. pusilla when Le Vaillant's two drawings are 

 compared. It is in fact however altogether, particularly 

 in the head, a larger formed bird. It is readily dis- 

 tinguished by this character alone when the skins are 

 examined together. In addition the white spots are 

 shaded with black, so as to give them the appearance 

 of pearls, and hence Le Vaillant's name, Chevechette 

 perlata; the tarsi and toes are covered with down 

 instead of feathers; the primaries are barred with three 

 bands of russet on a black ground, and the spots on 

 the tail form seven white bands. 



In addition to the above I may mention Sumia pas- 

 serinoides of Audubon — "The Little Columbian Owl" — 

 which is about the size and has a good deal of colouring 

 similar to that of pusilla, but it is darker, and the 

 white spots on the head and wing coverts are replaced 

 by chesnut. Those on the tail feathers are like pusilla, 

 largest on the inner barb, but they form six white 

 rather curved bands; the tarsi and toes are feathered 

 as in pusilla. It is a closely allied but perfectly dis- 

 tinct species. I need not say anything about the other 

 two South American Sparrow Owls, Athene nana and 

 A. pumila, as they are not likely to be confounded 

 with S. pusilla. 



S. pusilla is an inhabitant of North-eastern Europe. 

 It is stated by Degland to occur in North America, 

 but I believe this to be a mistake. It is excluded from 



