LITTLE OWL. 
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wings being broadly spotted with white ; the shoulder 
being a plain chocolate brown ; the tail extends con- 
siderably beyond the tips of the wings ; the bill is much 
larger, and of a more golden yellow ; iris of the eye, 
the same as that of the male. 
The different character of the feathers of this, and, I 
believe, of most owls, is really surprising. Those that 
surround the bill differ little from bristles ; those that 
surround the region of the eyes are exceeding open, 
and un webbed ; these are bounded by another set, 
generally proceeding from the external edge of the ear, 
of a most peculiar small, narrow, velvety kind, whose 
fibres are so exquisitely fine, as to be invisible to the 
naked eye ; above, the plumage has one general character 
at the surface, calculated to repel rain and moisture ; 
but, towards the roots, it is of the most soft, loose, and 
downy substance in nature, - — so much so, that it may be 
touched without being felt,* the webs of the wing 
quills are also of a delicate softness, covered with an 
almost imperceptible hair, and edged with a loose silky 
down, so that the owner passes through the air without 
interrupting the most profound silence. Who cannot 
perceive the hand of God in all these things ! 
S3. STEIX PASSEEIXA , LINN>®US. — LITTLE OWL. 
STEIX AC ABIC A, GMELIN. 
WILSON, PLATE XXXIV. FIG. I.- — EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
This is one of the least of its whole genus ; but, like 
many other little folks, makes up, in neatness of general 
form and appearance, for deficiency of size, and is, 
perhaps, the most shapely of all our ow ls. Nor are the 
colours and markings of its plumage inferior in simpli- 
city and effect to most others. It also possesses an eye 
fully equal in spirit and brilliancy to the best of them. 
This species is a general and constant inhabitant of 
the middle and northern states; but is found most 
numerous in the neighbourhood of the sea shore, and 
among w oods and swamps of pine trees. It rarely 
