104 
British Birds. 
THE SMALL 
TUFTED OWL. 
(Scops scops.) 
destroying a considerable quantity 
of game, as it takes not only Rabbits 
and Hares, but Grouse and Phea- 
sants, while it also captures other 
wild birds, such as Crows. The nest 
often consists of nothing more than 
the pellets cast up by the birds and 
the bones of animals. It is often 
placed on the ground or on a rock, 
more rarely in the hole of a tree. 
The eggs are white, rather rough in 
texture, and measure more than two 
inches in length. 
This is a Bubo 
in miniature, with 
the same elon- 
gated ear tufts, 
but only seven and a half inches in 
length. The general aspect of the 
plumage is grey, and the vermicu- 
lations and pencillings on the plum- 
age are very fine, and not coarse as is 
the case with the great Eagle-Owl. 
The Small Tufted Owl, or ‘ Scops ’ Owl, as it is often called, is a rare and occasional 
visitor to Great Britain, and has occurred in various parts of England, Scotland, and 
at least three times in Ireland. It often happens, however, that specimens of the 
1 Scops ’ Owl said to have been killed in Britain turn 
out to be examples of South American species, palmed 
oft' on the unwary purchaser. This little Owl has a 
wide range thoughout Europe and Northern Asia. 
It is a night-flying species, and makes scarcely any 
nest, laying its eggs in the hole of a wall or of a tree. 
Although the fact is not 
generally known, the Snowy Owl 
has ear-tufts, as in the Eagle-Owl, 
but they are never very large, and 
are consequently difficult to detect in the plumage 
of the bird’s head. The species is, however, easily 
told by its snowy-white plumage, and by its densely 
plumed feet, the claws being almost entirely hidden 
by the feathers of the toes. The Small Tufted Owl. 
The Eagle-Owl. 
THE 
SNOWY OWL. 
( Nycteci nyctea.) 
