SPARROW OWL. 
Strix passerina, Lenn. 
S. acadica, Gmel. 
Noctua passerina, Mihi. 
La Chouette chevéchette. 
We only follow the opinions and example of several of the best naturalists of the European continent in 
considering this very minute Owl, the Chevéchette of M. Temminck’s Manuel @ Ornithologie, p. 96, as the 
true passerina of Linneus, who, in the 12th edition of the Systema Nature, p. 133, says of this bird, 
“‘ magnitudo passeris.” It measures but little more than six inches in length; we have therefore called it, in 
reference to its diminutive size, the Sparrow Owl, intending to distinguish it from the Sérev passerina of 
authors, the Chevéche of M. Temminck, p. 92, which measures nine inches in length, and to which another 
specific name has been given. 
The Sparrow Owl is an inhabitant of Livonia and of the northern regions generally, seldom venturing 
farther south than the colder parts of Germany, where it is only seen in large forests, and has not, that we 
are aware, been taken in any part of the British Islands ; nor is it, we believe, ever found in America. 
All the upper parts of the head and body are of dark greyish brown, varied with spots of white ; the under 
parts white, with longitudinal patches of brown; on the flanks, the brown spots have a direction across the 
feathers ; throat and sides of the neck almost white ; the tail, the feathers of which are rather long, exhibits 
four narrow white bands ; the feet are feathered to the extremities of the toes ; the beak and irides yellow. 
The female is rather darker in the general tone of her colour, inclining to chocolate brown, and the white 
spots are less brilliant. She lays two white eggs; the nest is made in a hole of a tree in the forest, or 
occupies an aperture of a rock. 
The ordinary food of this species consists of mice, coleopterous insects, and large moths. 
We have figured a bird of the natural size. 
