222 LONG-EARED OWL. 



^'The irides bright yellow: the bill black: the 

 circle of feathers surrounding the eyes is white, 

 tipped with reddish and dusky spots, and the part 

 next the bill black : the breast and belly are of a 

 dull yellow, marked with slender brown strokes 

 pointing downwards: the thighs and vent-feathers 

 of the same colour, but unspotted : the back and 

 coverts of the wings are varied with deep brown 

 and yellow: the quill-feathers of the same colour, 

 but near the ends of the outmost is a broad bar of 

 red : the tail is marked with dusky and reddish bars, 

 but beneath appears ash-coloured: the horns or 

 ears are about an inch long, and consist of six 

 feathers, variegated with yellow and black: the 

 feet are feathered down to the claws. 



This bird is an admirer of woody and rocky 

 solitudes, and is not observed to build a nest of its 

 own, but contents itself with the deserted nest of a 

 Magpie or Buzzard, and usually lays five eggs. 

 The young are at first entirely covered with white 

 down, and begin to acquire their colours at the 

 expiration of about fifteen days. 



In some parts of Italy is found a variety of this 

 bird, which difiers in being somewhat larger, and 

 in having the plumage mixed or varied in a con- 

 siderable degree with ash-colour; the bend of the 

 wing, and the coverts white, and the tail marked 

 with zigzag black lines. 



The Long- Eared Owl is considered as a pretty 

 general inhabitant of Europe, and though far less 

 common in our own country than some other 

 species, is yet of no very unfrequent occurrence. 



