BRITISH BIRDS* 
47 
and edged with yellow ; the upper part of the bo- 
dy is beautifully penciled with fine ftreaks of 
white, rufty, and brown : the breaft and neck are 
yellow, finely marked with dulky ftreaks, pointing 
downwards ; the belly, thighs, and vent feathers are 
of a light cream colour : upon each wing there are 
four or five large white fpots ; the quill and tail 
feathers are marked with dulky and reddilh bars ; 
the legs are feathered down to the claws, which are 
very lharp ; the outer claw is moveable, and may 
be turned backwards. 
This bird is common in various parts of Eu- 
rope, as well as in this country ; its ufual haunts 
are in old ruined buildings, in rocks, and in hollow 
trees. M. Buffon obferves that it feldom con- 
ftru&s a neft of its own, but not unfrequently occu- 
pies that of the Magpie ; it lays four or five eggs ; 
the young are at firft white, but acquire their na- 
tural colour in about fifteen days. 
