STHIX N^VIA. 
98 
sions, and lowering its head as before described, 
swallowed its food hastily, in large mouthfuls; ‘‘“j. 
never was observed to drink. Of the eggs and nest 
this species, I am unable to speak. 
The mottled owl is teu inches long, and twenty-t^ 
in extent ; the upper part of the head, the back, 
and lesser wing-coverts, are dark brown, streaked a 
variegated with black, pale brown, and ;ish ; 
lighter, the greater coverts and primaries spotted 
white ; tail, short, even, and mottled with black, 1’*^^ 
brown, and n hitish, on a dark brown ground ; its lo'*^ 
side, gray ; horns, (.as they are usually called,) 
prominent, each composed of ten feathers, increasing 
length from the front backvi ards, and lightest on 
inside; face, whitish, marked with small touches 
dusky, and bounded on each side with a circlet ot 
breast and belly, white, beautifnlly variegated 
ragged streaks of black, and small transverse tone ^ 
of brown ; legs, feathered nearly to the claws, wn 
kind of hairy down, of .a pale brown colour; vent * j 
under tail-coverts, white, the latter slightly n'^ 
with brown ; iris of the eye, a brilliant golden yell® 
bill and claws, bluish horn colour. 
This was a female. The male is considerably 
size; the general colours darker; and the white 
cl< 
(tint 
the wing-coverts not so observable. 
Hollow trees, either in the woods or orchard, or 
evergreens in retired situations, are the usual 
places of this and most of our other species. 
retreats, however, are frecjuently discovered by J|,f 
nuthatch, titmouse, or blue jay, who instantly raise 
alarm; a promiscuous group of feathered neighbe^pi 
soon collect round the spot, like crowds in the ; 
of a large city, when a thief or murderer is dete® 
and, by their insults and vociferation, oblige the 
to seek for another lodging elsewhere. This 
account for the circumstance of sometimes finding 
abroad during the day, on fences and other exp 
situations. 
