LITTLE OWLS. 
I 59 
becomes more active and vigilant. It seldom haunts forests, but frequents old 
buildings, towers, and church walls, where, as well as in hollow trees and even in 
a rabbit-hole, its nest is found.” The number of eggs varies from three to five, and 
both sexes take their share in incubation. No nest is formed. In Italy the flesh 
of this owlet is commonly eaten; and this species has a peculiar interest as being 
the owl associated with the goddess Pallas in classical literature. In Persia, Mr. 
Blanford states that he has often seen five or six individuals of the pale-coloured 
desert variety in company; and almost every garden in that country has a pair, 
whose melancholy cries are regularly heard at night. 
In India the genus is represented by the spotted owlet ( 0. brama), in which 
little owl (g nat. size). 
the under-parts are barred, instead of streaked, and the general colour above greyish 
brown, with large and distinct white spots, and five bars on the tail. To the east¬ 
ward of the Bay of Bengal there is a variety of this species, in which the ground¬ 
colour of the upper-parts is slaty brown, and the white spots very small, while 
the tail has six bars. Jerdon says that the spotted owlet is to be found everywhere 
in India except in dense forests. “ Every clump of trees, and often a large single 
tree, especially near a village, is sure to be tenanted by a pair, or a small colony of 
these noisy birds. It often takes up its abode and roosts during the day in the 
eaves of houses, or under the roof; and if anything disturbs its rest, comes forth 
with its noisy, chattering, and disagreeable chorus. About sunset it is always on 
the alert, and soon after it sallies forth to feed. It takes short flights, frequently 
