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THE SCOPS EARED OWL. 
called tlie Austrian Rufous Owlet, or tlie Sparrow Owl. Although so small a creature, its 
food is the same as that of any of its larger relatives, consisting of small birds, bats, mice, and 
various insects. The general color of this curious little Owl is clove-brown, banded and marked 
with yellowish-brown, gray, and white. It may 
easily be distinguished from other Owls by the 
legs, which are very long in proportion to the 
dimensions of the bird, and instead of being feath- 
ered down to the toes, are covered with very short 
hair-like plumage, becoming very scanty over the 
toes. It is easily domesticated, and in a tamed 
state is so voracious that, according to Bechstein, 
it can swallow five mice at a single meal. 
Another curious little Owl is the Tengmalm’s 
Owl, or Death Bird ; the latter name having 
been given to it on account of a common super- 
stition that reigns among several of the North 
American Indian tribes. When an Indian hears 
one of these birds uttering its melancholy cry, he 
whistles towards the spot from whence the sound 
proceeded, and if the bird does not answer him, he 
looks for a speedy death. 
This species is at first sight not unlike the Little 
Owl, but may be at once distinguished from that 
bird by the structure of its legs and toes, and the 
thick feathery coating with which they are clad. 
It is a very common bird over the whole of the 
inhabited portions of North America, but is frequently found in Norway, Sweden, Russia, 
and even in Northern France and Italy. It is a nocturnal bird, seldom wandering from its 
home during the hours of daylight, as it is almost blinded by the unaccustomed glare, and 
may be easily captured by hand while thus bewildered. The nest of the Tengmalm’s Owl is 
generally made of grass, and is placed about half-way up some convenient pine-tree. The 
eggs are seldom more than two in number, are pure white in color, and not quite so globular 
as is the case with the generality of Owls’ eggs. 
The color of this bird is more rich and better defined than that of the Little Owl. Tlie 
whole of the upper parts of the body are a rich chocolate-brown, dotted and splashed with 
many white markings, which are very minute upon the top of the head, and larger upon the 
back and wings, some indeed being arranged on the lower portions of the wings so as to form 
irregular stripes. Similar white spots are placed on the tail, which is usually of a dark brown. 
The eye disk is grayish-white, excepting a bold black-brown ring just round the eye. The 
under portions of the body are grayish -white, covered with numerous brown bars and spots, 
and the plumage of the legs and toes is also gray- white sprinkled with brown spots. The size 
of the Tengmalm’s Owl is nearly the same as that of the Little Owl. 
We now arrive at a large group of Owls which are remarkable for two tufts of feathers 
which rise from the head, and occupy nearly ihe same relative position as the ears of quad- 
rupeds. These “ears,” as they are called, have, however, nothing to do with the organs of 
hearing, but are simply tufts of feathers, which can be raised or depressed at the will of the 
bird, and give a most singular expression to the countenance. 
The first of these birds is the Scops Eared Owl, a most singular little creature, which 
is sometimes, though rarely, taken in England, and has therefore been placed in the catalogue 
of British Birds. 
The geographical range of this species is very great, specimens now in the museums having 
been taken in Germany and several parts of Europe, India, Malacca, China, Gambia, and the 
LITTLE OWL .— Athene passerina. 
