*5<* O W L .
PlACS.
40.
+■ LITTLE
O.
Dasorijtion.
Inhabits New Zeeland— I think Dr. Forfter, who mentioned
the above fpecies to me, faid in Queen Charlotte's Sound; but am
not certain.
Strix pafferina, Lin. Syft. p. 133. N° 12.
' Scop. Ann. i. p. 22, N9 17.
La petite Chouette, Brif. orn. i. p. 514. N° 5.
La Cheveche, ou petite Chouette, Buf. oif. i. p. 377, t. 28.
" ----------- - -----—— PI. enl, 43^.
Noftua minor, Rail Syn. p. 26» N? 6.
' N. C. A. Petr, vol. xv. p. 447.1 .12 ?
Little Owl, Will, orn, p. 103. pi. 13.
Kleinfte Kautzlein, Frifch. t. 100.
Little Owl, Edw. glean. t. 228.— Albin. ii. t. 12.
------------- Br. Zool. N9 70.—Am. Zool N°
Br. Mu/.. Lev, Muf.
H IS is a fmall fpecies, in length not rrnich exceeding eight
inches. The bill is blackilh, with a yellowifh tip: irides pale
yellow: head, back, and wing-coverts, brown, inclining to olive;
the firft and the laft fpotted with white : the circular feathers on
the face white, tipped with black: under parts of the body white,
ipotted with brown: the tail brown, tranfverfely barred with
rufous on each fide the lhaft, and tipped with white. Mr. Pennant
adds, that the tail is barred with white likewife, which is the
cale in a fpecimen of mine; lo we may fuppofe them to vary in
this circumftance : the legs are covered with rufous grey down :
the toes are brown, and the claws of a brownilh colour.
M. de Buff on mentions one which was lent him from St. Do-
sningo, which varied in having lefs white on the throat, with.
brown
brown bands on the breaft inftead of longitudinal fpots; alfo
another variety from Germany, with black irides, and the whole
plumage darker than common. M. Frifch too has coloured his
bird with dark blue irides: hence we may fuppofe them to be of
a different colour, according to the various parts which they inhabit.
.
Dr. Forfter * remarks that this bird is called by the natives of
Hudfon’s Bay, Shipomds-pifh.
M. de Buffon fays it is rate in France, in comparifon with the
other Owls; frequenting ruined edifices, and the like, rather than
woods, in which laft it is feldom found. It makes it’s n£ft in
the holes of rocks, old walls and the like, in the moft retired
places, laying five eggs,, fpotted with white and ayellowilh colour.
It fees very well in the day-time, when it gives chace on the
wing to Swallows and other fmall birds, though feldom is
able to take them. It' has better fuccefs with rats and mice;
but cannot fwallow any of them whole, as the other Owls are
known to do; but, tearing them into morfels, eats the flelh only.
I am not quite clear about the Nohhta minor, referred to in the
Peterjburgh ‘TranfaEtions, as it is a foot in length, and the fize of
the Ulula, or Tawny Owl; however it is there likened to this
and it is farther mentioned, that the quills are varied with brown,
and ye llowilh th at i.t has much yellow, in the belly,, and the-
chin white..
PliACtl
AND
M annbkj .
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■
* Phil. ’Franf. vol. lxii.
f Scopoli fays it builds in diimnies in Carniola.i: perhaps it was the attempt
to do this, that caufed two of them to come down two different chimnies in England,
where they were taken, as mentioned by Mr. Edwards, in his account of
this bird. See vol. v. pi. 228,
!d &