( 6o ) 



ORD. I. GEN. 11. OWL. 



S P E. III. WOOD OWL. 



PL 25. 



Strix brachyotos. Lath. Ind. Orn. P. 55. No. 11. 



The length of this bird is fourteen inches, breadth three feet, and weight 

 fourteen ounces. The bill is horn colour : eyes yellow : the circle of feathers 

 round the eyes yellowifh white, but immediately clofe to the eye brown : the 

 back and wing feathers are brown, edged with dull orange colour: under 

 parts of the body pale orange colour, ftreaked with dark brown : tail orange 

 colour, barred with dull black, tip white : all the flight feathers are of an orange 

 colour, finely barred with dull black : under parts of the wings pale grey : the 

 legs completely feathered to the toes. 



This fpecies migrates to England in Oftober with the Woodcock, and quits 

 us in the fpring, for its fummer refidence, which is faid to be Norway. It feeds 

 on mice, fmall birds, and infects. During the day it lies hid among fern, high 

 grafs, &c., in woods. I have examined feveral frefli fpecimens of this owl, but 

 could not find any of the feathers on the head longer than the reft; and I have 

 not the lead doubt, but that the two fingle feathers fet upright on the top of 

 the head muft be afcribed to the whim of the bird-ftufFer only. 



