LITTLE OWLc 
are of an ash-colour, with, white spots both on- 
their inner and outer webs. The under side of 
the bird is white,, from the throat to the covert- 
! feathers of the tall ; it is spotted on the breast 
and sides with large black, spots ; the legs and 
I feet are covered to the-claws^, with white fea- 
thers which appear like hair ; and the claws 
are strong, crooked, and black." 
I . The Little Owl inhabits Europe ; and is 
I found in North America, from Hudson's Bay 
to New York. It is the Strix Passerina, of 
I Linn^us, Gmehn, Latham, Sec. the Nodua 
Minima, of Gesner and Aldrovandus ; and the 
No6l:ua Minor, of Ray, Klein, and Brisson. 
The Greeks and Romans are supposed, by 
Buffon, who calls if the Cheveche, or Petite 
Chouette, to have confounded it with the 
Scops Owl, or Aslo. This is the case in the 
modern languages : both are termed Zuetta, 
or Civetta, in Italian; Sechuza, in Spanish ^ 
Mocho, in Portuguese ; Kautzlein, in Ger- 
man; and Szovva, in Swedish. 
It is said to be a solitary bird ; chiefly re- 
siding in ruinous editices, and caverns, and 
never 
