Aluco. 
BIRDS. ACCIPITRES. 
57 
They have the face dark coloured. This owl pursues, in dark weather, pigeons, 
moorfowl, and plovers. Feeds likewise on mice and small birds. From the tes- 
timony of Mr Low, it breeds in Orkney, but, in the middle districts of Scot- 
land and England, it appears in harvest, and departs in spring, frequeiiting 
stubble-fields and long grass. When disturbed it flies but to a short distance. 
Gen. XV. ALUCO. Barn-Owl.- — Lower part of the tarsi 
and toes thinly clothed with white hairs. 
29 . A.Jlammeus , — Bill white, claws dusky. 
A. minor. Will. Orn. 66. Sibb. Scott. 15 — White Owl, Penn. i. 206 — 
Strix flammea, Temm. Orn.i. 91 — Church-Owl, Hissing-Owl, Screech- 
Owl W, Dylluan wen ; G, Cailleach-ordhche gheal — Near houses 
and old ruins. — Common. 
Length 14, breadth 36 inches; weight 12 ounces. Plumage, above, pale 
yeUo wish-brown, with interrupted streaks of dusky and grey, and dusky freck- 
les. Beneath white. First and second quill-feathers of equal length. Webs 
not abbreviated. This species breeds in steeples and old ruins, or trees. Eggs, 
3 or 4, of a white colour. Young, easily tamed. Feeds on mice, and is use- 
ful about barns. Devours the shrew. Makes a noise by hissing and snap- 
ping its biU. Resides throughout the year. 
Gen. XVI. BUBO. Eagle-Owl, — Toes closely covered 
with feathers. 
30. B. maximus . — Second and third quill-feathers longest. 
Bubo, Will. Orn. 63 — B. max, Sibb. Scot. 15. Eagle-Owl, Penn: Brit, 
^ool. i. 202 — Neill's Tour in Orkney, p. 195 — Strix bubo, ( Linn.) 
Temm. i. 100. — W, y Ddylluan fawr — In England and Scotland, rare. 
Length 2 feet, bill and claws dusky ; irides orange. Plumage above, wa- 
ved with black and yellov/ ; beneath yellow, with black stripes. Throat white, 
a character peculiar to the male. Breeds in rocks. Eggs 3, round and white. 
It occurs m Orkney, where it preys, according to Mr Neill, on rabbits and 
moorfowl. It has been shot in different places of England, but may be con- 
sidered rare, and probably nothing more than a straggler. 
Gen. XVII. SCOPS.— Feet naked. 
31. S. Aldrovandi . — Bill black, irides yellow. 
Will. Orn. 65 — Little Horned-Owl, Mont. Orn. Diet. Supp — Strix Scops, 
Temm. Orn.i. 103 — Yorkshire, Mr Fothergill ; and Mr Folgamble. 
Rare. 
Length 74 inches. Plumage variegated with dusky, rufous, brown and 
grey ; the brown predominating above the grey beneath. Quills transversely 
barred with rufous-white. Feathers on the legs rufous-grey. Tarsi and claws 
brown. Horns and head brown, with black dots. Breeds in rocks. Eggs 2 
to 4, of a white colour. Though not uncommon on the Continent of Europe, 
it must be regarded as little else than a straggler in Britain. 
Gen. XVIII. STRIX. — Feet closely feathered. 
32. S. stridula. Ivy-Owl. —Bill pale horn-coloured, irides 
and claw'S dusky. 
