OWL, 345 



continent of Europe ; does not inhabit Siberia, but mentioned by 

 Gmelin as frequenting Astractian ; is also seen at Newfoundland. 



We have ever had our doubts concerning specific distinction 

 between the two birds above, and how far they diffeied fiom a third, 

 recorded in our Synopsis under the article Brown Owl, or Chouette of 

 pi. enl. 438, all the three having hitherto been blended and con- 

 founded ; this last, however, is certainly different from the others, in 

 having yellow irides,* whereas in the two former they are brown, or 

 dusky blue. 



We are now indeed confirmed, from later observations, that our 

 Tawny and Aluco Owl, are one and the same, the Tawny being 

 most probably the male and the latter female, or if not precisely so, 

 are mere varieties of each other, nor are we quite certain of the 

 difference between the Ulula and Aluco of Linnaeus. The fact seems 

 to be, that the birds not being uncommon, each author supposing 

 his bird perfectly known by every one, omitted some leading- 

 character, which might have stamped the difference without con- 

 troversy. 



42.— AUSTRIAN OWL. 



Strix Sylvestris, Ind. Orn. i. p. 61. Gm. Lin. i. 292. Scop, Ann. i. No. 13. Kramer. 



324. 7 ? Daud. ii. 199. Shatu's Zool. vii. 247. 

 Austrian Owl, Gen. Syn. i. 136. 



SIZE of acock. Bill yellowish ; irides glaucous; circle of the 

 face whitish ; body variegated with white and brown. 

 Inhabits Camiola. 



* We have already formed our opinion in supposing it no other than our Short-eared 

 species. 



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