OWL 
ing thofe places of mice. It quits it's perch 
about twilight, and takes a regular circuit round 
?the fields, (kimming along the ground in queft of 
.field-mice; after which it returns to it's ufual 
•haunts. At the feafon of incubation, it takes up 
Lit's refidence in the woods. 
The elegance of this bird's plumage fufficiently 
compenfates for the uncouthnefs of it's form : a 
circle of foft white feathers furrounds the eyes; 
and the upper part of the body, the coverts, and 
the fecondary feathers of the wings, are of a fine 
pale yellow colour, with two grey, and as many 
white fpots on each fide of the fhafts. The exte- 
rior fides of the quill-feathers are yellow; the in- 
terior being white, with four black fpots on each 
lide. The lower fide of the body is entirely 
white; the interior fides of the featliers of the tail 
are alfo white, the exterior being marked with fome 
obfcure duflcy bars; the legs are feathered as far 
as the feet; and the feet are covered with fhort 
"hairs. The ufiial length of this bird is about 
fourteen inches; and the expanfion of the wings 
is three feet. 
This fpecies of Owl fcldom hoots, but fnores 
and hifiTes in a mofl violent manner; and, while it 
flies along, often fcreams mod tremendoufly. It's 
only fubfiftence is mice; and as the young birds 
continue in the neft for a great length of time, 
and are fed by the parent long after they can fly, 
many hundreds of thefe vermin will fcarcely fup- 
ply one neil with food. 
All Owls are extremely fhy of man, very indo- 
cile, and difficult to be tamed. The White Owl 
in particular, as Buffbn afi!erts, cannot be recon- 
ciled to captivity; but he probably means, when 
it is old. He adds, that they will live ten or 
twelve days in the aviary v/here they are fhut up ; 
but that they refufe all kinds of nourifliment, and 
at lafl: die through hunger. By day they remain 
motionlefs on the floor; but in tlie evening they 
mount on the highed perch, where they incei- 
fantly make a noife like a man fnoring with his 
mouth open. 'Thisfeems,' faysBulfon, * defigned 
as a call for their old companions without : and, 
in fa6V, I have obferved feveral others attend at 
the call, and perch on the roof of the aviary, where 
they miade the fame kind of hiding, and frequently 
permitted themfelves to be enclofed in a net.' 
Owl, Brown ; the Strix Ulula of Linnasus. 
The head, wings, and back, of this bird, are of a 
deep brown colour, elegantly fpotted with black ; 
the coverts of the wings and the fcapulars are 
adorned with white fpots ; the exterior edges of 
the four firfl; quill-feathers areferrated; thebreafl:is 
of a very pale afli-colour, mixed with dufky, and 
marked with oblong jagged fpots ; and the circle 
round the face is afii-coloured, fpotted with brown. 
This fpecies inhabits the woods, where it re- 
mains the whole d^y; but at night it approaches 
the abodes of men, and becomes extremely cla- 
morous. It frequently enters pigeon-houfes, 
where it miakes great havock. It breeds in hollow 
trees, or ruinous buildings; and lays four white 
eggs, of an elliptic form. 
Owl, Tawny, or Ivv Owl; the Strix Stri- 
dula of Linn^us. This is the fpecies commonly 
called the Screech-Owl, to which fuperftition has 
afcribed a power of prefaging death by it's cries. 
The ancients likewife believed that it fucked the 
blood of young children: a faft by no means in- 
credible; for HaiTelquift defcribes a kind of Sy- 
rian Owl, which frequently entered houfcs in the 
evening, anddellroyed infants while afleep. 
Vol. IL 
OWL 
This fpecies may be diftinguifhed from the reft 
of the genus by the following charafters : it's beak 
is of a pale horn-colour, and ihon, but the open- 
ing of the mouth is very wide; it's eyes are re- 
markably large and protuberant, and fituated very- 
near it's ears; and the apertures of it's ears are 
very large, and covered with a membrane. The 
colour of the back, head, coverts of the wings, 
and fcapulars, is a fine tawny red, elegantly 
fpotted and powdered with dufl<y fpots of various 
fizes; on the coverts of the wings and the fcapu- 
lars there are feveral large white fpots ; the co- 
verts of the tail are tawny, without any marks; 
and the tail itfelf is barred and fpotted with pale 
red and black. The breavt and belly are yellowifh, 
mixed with white, and marked with narrow black 
fi;rokes pointing downwards; and the legs are 
covered with feathers down to the toes. 
Owl, Li rxLE ; the Strix PaflTerina of Linn^us, 
This elegant fpecies fcarcely exceeds the thrufh 
in fize, though the fulnefs of it's plumage gives 
it a larger appearance. It has a light yellow ring 
round the eye; and the bill is of a green colour. 
The plumage which encircles the face is white 
tipt with black; the head is brown, fpotted with 
white; the back and coverts of the wings are of a 
deep olive brown hue, the latter being fpotted 
vv'ith white; and on the breaft there is a mixture 
of brown and white. The belly is white fpotted 
with brown; and the tail is. of the fame colour 
with the back, each feather being barred with 
white. 
This bird is feldom feen in England. The 
Italians ufe it to decoy fmall birds to their limed 
twigs. 
Owl, Great White, of Hudson's Bav; the 
Strix Nyclelea of Linnseus. This fpecies, which 
was firft defcribed by Edwards, both in magni- 
tude and beauty, may be confidered as one of th« 
firft of the genus. The bill, which is black, is 
hooked like that of the hawk, and almoft covered 
with fi;iff feathers planted round it's bafe, and re- 
fledted forwards; the eyes are encompaffed with 
bright yellow irides; the head is fmaller in pro- 
portion than is common to this kind, and of a 
pure white colour; as is likewife the body, toge- 
ther with the wings and tail. The top of the 
head is marked with fmall dirty brown fpots ; the 
upper part of the back is painted with tranfverfe 
lines of duflcy brov/n ; the quills on the exterior 
webs are marked with dufky fpots ; the covert- 
feathers within-fidc the wings are wholly white; 
the lower part of the back is dellitute of fpots ; 
the legs and feet are covered with white feathers ^ 
and the claws are long, ftrong, and black. 
This Owl continues in Hudfon's Bay during 
the whole year; is faid to be a diurnal bird; and 
feeds on v/hite partridges. 
Owl, Little Hawk. This is fomewhat 
larger than the fparrow-hawk : the bill is without 
angles, and of a bright reddifli yellow colour; the 
fpaces round the eyes are white, a little fhiaded 
v/ith brown, and dallied v/ith fmall longifli dufky 
fpots; and the outfides of thefe fpaces tov/ards the 
ears are encircled with black, beyond which again 
there is a fmall portion of white. The top of 
the head is of a very dark brown hue, finely 
fpotted with white; the neck, and from thence to 
the middle of the back, is a dark brown ; and the 
wings are of a brown colour, the quills and co- 
vert-feathers being fpotted on their exterior webs 
with white. The feathers between the back and 
wings are painted with broad tranfverfe bars of 
2 P brown 
