C 12 ) 



The Little-Owl ,No6lua. 



Numb. XII. 



IT was about the Bignefs of a Blackbird ; it weighed three Ounces j its Length 

 from the Tip of the Beak to the End of the Tail, was leven Inches and a half; 

 when the Wings were extended 'twas fourteen Inches : its Bill was like that of other 

 Owls i the Tongue a little divided, as in the reft of this Tribe ; the Palate below black, 

 having a wide or gaping Cleft, and below it a round Hole ; the Noftrils oblong; the 

 Ears great ; the Eyes leflfer than in otliei; Owls. 



The Wreath or Circle of Feathers encompafling the Face, beyond the Ears lefs 

 and lefs difcernable ; the upper Part of the body was of a dark Brown, with a Mixture 

 of red, having tranfverfe white Spots, intermixed with Lines and fmall Specks of 

 black; the Tail was two Inches long, made up of twelve Feathers exadly equal, 

 having fix whitifh tranfverfe Bars. 



The Feathers about the Ears were more variegated with black and white ; the Chin 

 and Belly of a yellowifh white ; the Breaft marked with long dusky Spots inclofed 

 ^with a Border of white. 



The Number of Beam-Feathers in each Wing was twenty two, the firft of which 

 was fhorter by half an Inch than the fecond, third, and fourth, which were of equal 

 Length, the fifth equal to the firft j then fliortening by degrees to the eleventh, 

 then increafing in Length to the nineteenth, then dccrcafing again, the twenty fecond 

 being the fhorteft of all ; both inner and outer Webs were fpotted with white Spots. 



It was feathered down to the Claws ; the Feet were of a dark yellow ; the Claws 

 blackilh : It had two Fore-Toes and two back-Toes ; the Talons black ; the inner Side 

 of the middle Talon is thinned into an Edge. 



It hath a great Gall ; the Length of the Guts was ten Inches 5 of the blind Guts, 

 one Inch and a quarter. 



This Bird was taken on the Coaft of Ujhant by Captain Boreman, it having loft 

 its Way at Sea, lighting on the Maft of the Ship, was fo tired that it fuffered it felf 

 to be taken without any Rcfiftance, and was preferved and brought home by him, and 

 given to me by his Brother Thomas Boreman, Bookfeller on Liidgate-Htll. 



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