THE LITTLE ITALIAN OWL. 15 



for ever in a butcher's shop, provided he were 

 allowed to go and take his breakfast and 

 dinner in the neighbouring woods. I can see 

 the squirrel here just now, living entirely on 

 the seeds of the cones of the spruce firs ; I can 

 see him in the very trees which contain nests 

 of ringdoves, thrushes, chaffinches, and black- 

 birds. Still the owners of these nests betray 

 no fears on his approach ; and he himself 

 shows no inclination for raw eggs, or for young 

 or old birds, whereon to make a meal. 



THE CIVETTA, OR LITTLE ITALIAN OWL. * 



This diminutive rover of the night is much 

 prized by the gardeners of Italy for its un- 

 common ability in destroying insects, snails, 

 slugs, reptiles, and mice. There is scarcely an 

 out-house in the gardens and vineyards of that 

 country which is not tenanted by the civetta. 

 It is often brought up tame from the nest ; 



* See a correct description of this bird in the Ornitologia 

 Toscana, vol. i. p. 76., by Professor Paolo Savi. 



