554 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



The Common Sparrow Owl (Athene passerina), which is very 

 numerous in France, and, in fact, through the whole of Europe, is 

 about the size of a Thrush. It inhabits old ruins and quarries, but 

 never lives in. the hollows of trees ; therefore it rarely makes its abode 

 in the woods. Its nature is much less nocturnal than that of its 

 congeners, and it is often seen pursuing small birds in broad daylight, 

 though probably -with but little success. Its general food consists of 

 mice, which it tears in pieces before eating, as it is unable to swallow 

 them whole. It also very skilfully plucks the feathers from birds 

 which become its victims. In winter, when the snow is on the 

 ground, it devours the filth deposited in the farm-yards. Like the 

 Scops, it delights in following persons who pass its retreat, es- 

 pecially at the break of dawn. When flying it utters a cry, poopoo, 

 poopoo ! which it substitutes, when perched, for a sound very like the 

 voice of a young Frenchman saying, aime, heme, esme ! Buffon relates 

 a curious anecdote on this subject : — " I was sleeping in an old tower 

 of the Chateau of Montbard, when a little before daybreak, at three 

 o'clock in the morning, a sparrow owl came and perched on the 

 window-seat of my chamber, and woke me by its cry of heme, edme. 

 As I listened to this voice, which seemed to me all the more singular 

 as it was so near, I heard one of my servants, who was sleeping in a 

 room above, open his window, and, deceived by the well-articulated 

 sound of edme, answer the bird : ' Who is down there ? My name 

 is not Edme, but Peter.' The servant actually believed that it was a 

 man calling, so much did the voice of the owl resemble that of a 

 human being, and so distinctly did it articulate the word." 



The fowlers of Tessin employ the Sparrow Owl for enticing birds 

 into their nets. If taken when young it is easily tamed, and shows 

 itself capable of affection. M. Bailly possessed one which exhibited 

 much pleasure when rubbed on the breast, back, or head, remaining 

 during the operation perfectly immovable, either on its chest or on 

 its back. 



In Northern Italy this bird is reared in captivity ; it feeds on 

 mice, and even eats fruit and polenta. M. Gerard relates that he 

 reared a Sparrow Owl, which became so tame that it willingly allowed 

 itself to be caressed. It destroyed a great many insects, and ate 

 everything that was given it, but showed such a very decided pre- 

 ference for raw meat that it sometimes, without letting go its hold, 

 hung suspended to a morsel of intestine for more than ten minutes. 

 It was on the best of terms with the cat of the house ; and they were 

 often found lying close together in the same basket. The dog was 

 never able to gain the bird's affections ; and a raven, which lived in 



