The Scops Eared-Owl. BIRDS. The Eagle Owl. 267 
* 
be the unintentional tutor of the young owl. In the 
Himalayas at an elevation of five thousand feet. It is 
United States the food of the Burrowing Owls, accord- 
a rare visitor to Britain, but several specimens have 
ing to the writer just quoted, consists exclusively of 
been taken in different parts of England. Its habits 
insects, and they seem never to touch the marmots 
are nocturnal, and, according to the late Mr. Spence, its 
among which they reside; hut in the West Indies 
melancholy cry of Icew, Iccw, may be heard in Italy at 
they are said to prey not only upon insects, hut also 
intervals of about two seconds almost all night long. Its 
upon rats, mice, and reptiles. The Burrowing Owl is a 
food consists of mice, beetles, moths, and other insects. 
small species, only measuring between nine and ten 
When reposing on the branch of a tree during the day. 
inches in length. The plumage above is of a light 
it does not, according to Dr. Gerbes, a French ornitho- 
amber-brown, -with whitish spots ; that of the lower 
legist, sit transversely on its resting-place, as is usual 
surface is whitish with brown bands on the breast. 
with birds, but almost always takes up a position paral- 
THE LITTLE AMERICAN OWL {Nyctale acadica) is 
lei to it. The nest of the Scops Eared-owl is formed 
a very small species, measuring only seven inches and 
in the holes of trees and old walls ; it lays from three to 
1 
a half in length. It inhabits the middle and northern 
four white eggs. It may be tamed with great facility, 
states of the American Union and extends as far north 
and is an interesting little bird in confinement. 
as Nova Scotia and the Hudson’s Bay territory. It 
THE RED EARED-OWL {Ephialtes Asio) is a North- 
occurs most abundantly towards the sea-shore, and 
American species, and appears to be tolerably common 
amongst woods and pine swamps, in the shade of the 
in the United States, especially towards the north. It 
sombre foliage of which it dozes through the day. 
migrates southwards in the winter. It frequents the 
The twilight is its period of activit}', and its prey con- 
high grounds, and feeds on mice, small birds, beetles. 
sists principally of mice, which it catches with great 
and other insects. During the day this bird roosts in the 
dexterity. 
thick evergreen trees, and comes abroad in the even- 
TENGMALM’S OWL {Nyctale funerea), another 
ing, when it may be heard uttering a peculiar cry. 
abundant North American species, a little larger than 
described by Wilson as a “ melancholy quivering kind 
1 
the preceding, is also found in the forests of Northern 
of wailing,” from which it has acquired the name of the 
Europe, and more sparingly in the more southern parts 
Little Screech-owl. Its nest is made with a little'hay 
of the Continent. It has also been met with in Egypt. 
and a few feathers in the hole of a tree; in this the 
In this country it is rarely seen. In America it occurs 
female usually deposits four white eggs. 
most abundantly in the Hudson’s Bay territories, where. 
THE EAGLE OWL {Bubo maximus), one of the largest 
according to Sir John Richardson, it occupies all the 
species of this family, is an inhabitant of Europe, where 
wooded country from the Great Slave Lake to the 
it is tolerably common in the great forests of the Conti- 
United States, but is most plentiful on the banks of the 
nent, but is only a rare and occasional visitor to the 
Saskatchewan. It is nocturnal in its habits, and can- 
British islands. It is also found in many parts of Asia, 
not bear the light of day. Its cry is a single melancholy 
even as far to the east as China. When full-grown 
note, repeated at intervals of a minute or two, and the 
this bird measures from twenty- four to twenty- eight 
Indians have a superstitious practice of whistling when 
inches in length, the females being the largest. The 
they hear it. They suppose that if the bird does not 
colour of the plumage on the head, neck, and back, is 
reply it is a sign of the speedy death of the whistler. 
reddish-brown, streaked and mottled with dark brown ; 
and hence the Cree Indians call it the Death-bird. 
the quill feathers of the tail and wings are barred trans- 
Like the preceding species, it builds a nest about half- 
versely with dark brown; the feathers of the facial discs 
way up a pine-tree, and lays two white eggs. 
are light brown, speckled with black, and below the face 
THE SCOPS EARED-OWL {Ephialtes Scops)., the Little 
are some white feathers, forming a more or less distinct 
Horned Owl of some writers, is one of the smallest 
irregular white band ; the lower surface is pale brown. 
species of the family, measuring little more than seven 
spotted and barred with dark brown. The head is 
inches in length. Like many other owls, its head is 
ornamented with two large tufts of feathers which stand 
adorned with two tufts of feathers, which in this species 
up above the eyes like horns; and the feet are feathered 
resemble small pointed ears, projecting upwards and 
down to the extremities of the toes. 
backwards from behind the eyes. Its beak is short. 
Although this magnificent owl is so common in some 
and the feet feathered only to the base of the toes. 
parts of Europe, its habits appear to have been but 
which are naked both above and below. The colour 
little studied. Its activity is principally nocturnal. 
of the plumage of the back consists of two shades of 
although it appears able to support the light better than 
brown, mottled with grey, and barred with dark lines ; 
some of its allies. Its prey consists of hares, grouse. 
the tail feathers are barred and spotted with brown 
and partridges, which fall easy victims to a bird of its 
and black; the lower surface is greyish, mottled and 
strength and size. Some miters state that its courage 
streaked with different shades of brown. 
is equal to its powers, and that it has no fear of a dog ; 
The regions inhabited by this little owl lie further to 
when hard pressed it is said to throw itself on its back 
the south than those which constitute the favourite 
and defend itself vigorously with its claw^s. It has even 
residence of the preceding species. It is found abun- 
been described as contending successfully wuth the eagle. 
dantly in the southern countries of Europe, especially 
and a French writer tells us that he witnessed an engage- 
in Italy and France, but appears to migrate even 
ment of this kind, in which the owl fixed himself so 
thence into the warmer regions of Africa for the winter 
firmly to his adversary with his talons, that both came 
season. In France it is said to apj)ear and depart with 
to the ground together, and were taken alive. 
the swallows. It occurs in India, and breeds in the 
The nest of the Eagle Owl is a bulky structure, usu- 
