LU /u(c f ^ w» 
Clafs II.] 
BIRDS. 
7i 
chara&erifed by its horns or ears, as to make any 
farther defcription unneceffary. Thofe fingular 
feathers diftinguifhing it at once from all others of 
this genus in Great-Britain : each ear confifts of 
fix feathers, of the form and colors that are ex- 
preffed in the print* 
SPECIES 
II. The fhort Eared Owl. Plate B 3. and 
Plate B 4. Fig. 2. 
H E horns of this fpecies are very fmall, 
and each confifts of only a fingle feather $ 
thefe it can raife or deprefs at pleafure; 
and in a dead bird they are with difficulty difco- 
vered. This kind is fcarcer than the former; but 
like it is found in the mountanous wooded parts 
of our ifland : both are folitary birds, avoiding 
inhabited places. Thefe fpecies may be called 
long winged owls ; the wings when clofed reach¬ 
ing beyond the end of the tail; whereas in the 
common kinds, they fall fhort of it. The length 
of the fhort eared owl is thirteen inches and a half: 
the head is fmall and hawk-like : the bill is 
-dufky : the circle of feathers that immediately 
furrounds the eyes is black : the larger circle 
white, terminated with tawny : the feathers on 
the head, back, and coverts of the wings are brown 
edged with pale dull yellow : the breaft and belly 
are of the fame color, marked with a few lono- 
narrow ftreaks of brown pointing downwards: the 
thighs, legs,and toes are covered with plain yellow 
feathers : the quil-feathers are dusky, barred with 
red : the tail is of a very deep brown, adorned on 
each fide the fhaft of each feather with a yellow 
circle which contains a brown fpot: the tip of the 
tail is white. 
Befides thefe two fpecies of horned owls, we 
may add the great horn owl of Sir R. Sibbald , p. 
15. found, according to his account, in the Ork¬ 
neys : the great eagle owl has been once fhot in 
Torkjhire ; but w r e cannot, from thefe two in- 
ftances, determine whether they are natives of 
this kingdom, or only accidental wanderers out of 
Scandinavia . I his fhort eared fpecies we believe 
to be nondefcript. 
** Owls with fmooth Heads. 
SPECIES HI. The White Owl. Plate B. 
Common barn, white, or church 
owl, Howlet, madge Howlet. 
Gillihowter. IVil. orn. 104. 
T HIS fpecies is almoft domeftic : in¬ 
habiting, for the greateft part of the 
year, barns, haylofts, and other out- 
houfes ; and is as ufeful in clearing thofe places 
from mice, as the congenial cat : towards twi- 
> 
light it quits its perch, and takes a regular circuit 
round the fields ; fkimming along the ground in 
queft of field mice, and then returns to its ufual 
Rail fyn. av. 25. 
Aluco. Brijfon av. I. 503. 
Strix aluco. Lin.JyJi . 93. 
refidence: in the breeding feafon it takes to the 
woods. 
The elegant plumage of this bird makes a- 
mends for the uncouthnefs of its form : a circle 
of foft white feathers furround the eyes. The 
upper part of the body, the coverts and fecondary 
feathers of the wings are of a fine pale yellow : 
on 
