LITTLE OWL. 148 



RAPTOR ES. STRIGIDM. 



PLATE XXIX. 



LITTLE OWL. 

 Noctua Passerina.. 



This handsome little bird is the smallest of the British 

 Owls, and in confinement very amusing and interesting. 

 It is generally considered to be a rare species in Britain, 

 although its habits may be the means of keeping it from 

 the view of men. From its small size, and habits of con- 

 cealment, it may generally be overlooked by sportsmen 

 who go in pursuit of birds during the daytime ; and game- 

 keepers or poachers who are on the look-out for birds at 

 night, are not likely to fire at so small and unpromising 

 an object. Linneus had quite overlooked this bird, which 

 speaks greatly in favour of our supposition, as that greatest 

 of all naturalists generally noticed whatever came before 

 him, and although rare in this country, why should he 

 not have met with it in other countries where it is said 

 to be plentiful ? The habits of this bird differ in many 

 respects from those of other Owls. Its flight is quite dis- 

 tinct from others of its congeners, and resembles in its jerking 

 manner that of the woodpecker and chaffinch. During the 

 night its flight is rapid and strong, and frequently directed 

 towards the light, in consequence of which it now and then 

 darts at a lighted window, to the great disturbance and 

 alarm of the inmates. 



In its nocturnal flight, it frequently utters its varied 



