A 0 0 1 PITRES. STRIGIDJE.
C a b in e no c tu a (Scopoli*).
THE LITTLE OWL.
Noctua passerina]l.
C a r in e , K a u p i.—Beak decurved from the base; cere short and swollen; nostrils
oval; lower mandible sinuated. Auditory conch large, the orifice small and
without an operculum. Facial disk not well defined. Wings large; the third
and fourth quill-feathers nearly equal in length. Legs long, covered with short
feathers, and toes above with bristles only. Head round, large and without
tufts.
T h e L i t t l e O w l, lik e s e v e r a l o t h e r s , c a n o n ly h e c o n s id e r e d
a n o c c a s io n a l v i s i to r t o t h i s c o u n t r y , t h o u g h i t h a s n ow been
ta k e n s e v e r a l t im e s . T h e r e is n o d o u b t , h o w e v e r , a s has
* Slrix noctua, Scopoli, Annus I. Historico-Naturalis, p. 22 (1769).
+ Not Strix passerina, Linngeus.
t Skizzirte Entwickelungs-Geschichte und Natürliches System der Europäischen
Thierwelt, p. 29 (1829).
.11..:A. ILL...7A__
been already mentioned, that from the general similarity in
appearance of this and Tengmalm’s Owl, they have been
more than once mistaken the one for the other. The Little
Owl is not strictly nocturnal in its habits, for one observer
has seen it, at midday, when the sun was shining brightly,
carry off a Sparrow from a flock; but, as a rule, towards the
evening it becomes more active and vigilant. I t 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 female lays from three to five
white eggs of a short oval form, measuring from 1-48 to
1-28 by from 1-2 to 1-09 in. The male takes his turn in
sitting upon the eggs, and rearing the young, which are fed
upon mice, small birds, frogs, beetles, moths and caterpillars.
Its note is said to resemble somewhat that of the
Scops-Owl, though the difference between them is easily
recognized by those who are acquainted with both.
In a cage the Little Owl will live for some time if care be
taken to supply it sufficiently with mice or birds having their
fur or feathers left on. A pair in Mr. Gurney’s possession,
bred, but did not rear the young. The actions of this species
in captivity are grotesque and ridiculous beyond measure.
Advantage is taken of them by the continental bird-catchers,
who find it irresistibly attractive when tethered near their
nets, snares or limed twigs.
Edwards drew his figure of this Little Owl, from a specimen
caught alive in a chimney in London; and a second
example was taken about the same time in a similar situation,
in the parish of Lambeth. Since then about a score oi
examples are said to have been observed in England, in the
counties of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Middlesex, Norfolk (where
its nest is stated, by Hunt, to have been taken), Cambridge,
Derby, York, Westmoreland, Flint, Worcester, Wilts and
Devon ; but the species does not seem to have been noticed
either in Scotland or Ireland. Some of the occurrences on
record are possibly due to the importation from the continent
of living birds which have escaped from captivity or have
been intentionally liberated. Thus in 1842, Waterton, who