STRIX PASSERINA, 



LITTLE OWL. 



Generic Character. Strix Bubo. 



Synonyms. ' 



Strix PasserinAo Lin, Syft. u p. 133. 12. Ind. 

 Orn. 1, p, 65, 46. 

 - Little Owl. Br. ZooL 1. 70. Ib.foL i%. iah, B, 5, 



Ar^, ZooL 2. 126, Lath. Syn. 

 f. i50e 40« Mont. Orn. Dm. Vol 2. 

 Cat, of the London Mufeum^ p. 43. 



I-<ENGTH nearly nine, and breadth fourteen inches, 

 weight about two ounces and a half. Bill broad at the bafe, 

 and much curved, furrounded with hair-like feathers^ which 

 projed beyond the bill ; irides light yellow with green reflec- 

 tions ; legs feathered to the toes, which are covered with 

 down, interfperfed with hairs ; claws long and flender. Thefe 

 birds are fubjeft to confiderable variation in the colour of their 

 plumage ; the female rather exceeds in fize. 



This is a very rare bird, and is but feldom known to breed 

 in this country ; our friend Mr. Gough, of Middlefhaw, in 

 Weftmoreland, informs us, a pair took up their abode In g 

 barn, in that village, in the fpring of 1811, one of which died 

 by feme accident ; another pair bred in a chimney, in the fame 



neighbourhoodj 



