neck, back, wing coverts and scapulars, are tawny brown, finely powdered and spotted with dark brown and black; on the wing coverts and scapulars, are several large white spots, regularly placed, so as to form three rows; the quill feathers are marked with alternate bars of light and dark brown; the breast and belly are pale yellow, marked with narrow dark streaks pointing downwards, and crossed with others of the same: the legs are feathered down to the toes; the claws large, much hooked, and white. This species is found in various parts of Europe; it frequents woods, and builds its nest in the hollows of trees. The Tawny Owl and Brown Owl have by the older authors been described as distinct species; but Latham, Montagu, and Temminck seem to agree in considering them identical, the differences arising merely from age and

(Strix passerina, Linn.-La Chevêche ou Petite
Chouette, Buff.)

THE length of this bird is about nine and a half inches, breadth twenty-one and a half, and weight four ounces: the bill is light horn colour; irides pale yellow; orbits black, and a patch or streak of that colour passes from underneath the eye to the beak. The circular feathers on the face are white, mixed or faintly streaked with pale brown, and surrounded with a border of black, somewhat divided by small spots of white; the head and neck are spotted with pale brown and white; breast and belly white, streaked and patched with various-sized spots of light brown; legs and vent white; back, wings, and tail brown, somewhat inclining to olive, and distinctly marked with white spots. The legs and feet are covered with soft feathers down to the claws. It frequents rocks, caverns,

and ruined buildings, makes its rudely constructed nest in the most retired places, and lays four or five eggs, spotted with white and yellow. It sees better in the day-time than other nocturnal birds, and gives chace to small birds on the wing; it likewise feeds on mice: it is said to pluck the birds before it eats them, in which it differs from almost all other Owls. It would appear from the accounts of ornithologists that this bird is seldom seen in Britain. Temminck says it is found in almost every country in Europe, but never farther north than the 55th degree of latitude. The drawing from which our cut was engraven, was taken from a specimen shot at Widdrington, January, 1813, and we feel much obliged to Mr R. R. Wingate, of Newcastle, for his drawing, and the aid it affords us, to give a correct representation of this bird.

(Strix Scops, Linn.-Le Scops, ou petit Duc, Buff.)

THIS is the smallest of the Owl kind in this country; its bill is brown at the base, and paler at the tip; irides light yellow. The upper plumage appears brown, the under grey, but on nearer inspection the whole is prettily variegated with white spots, streaks, and bars of dusky brown, rufous and yellow, and almost every feather is speckled with white, brown, and grey; the circular feathers on the face are powdered with brown; the neck, head, and ear feathers, are much the same, but more distinctly marked with bars, streaks, and spots of white, yellow and brown; the back feathers and greater coverts of the wings are barred, streaked, and speckled with the same colours, but on their outer margins are patched with spots of white; the greater quills are transversely barred on their outer webs with white and freckled brown, and barred on the inner

webs to their tips with the latter colour; the tail is barred nearly in the same way. The legs are covered to the toes with yellowish soft feathers spotted with brown; the toes are without feathers, and are also brown. The stuffed specimen of this rare and curious little bird, from which our figure and description were taken, was sent to the author by Mr Charles Fothergill, late of York: another is now in the museum of P. J. Selby, Esq. of Twizell House, Northumberland. There is also a very fine specimen in the cabinet of the Hon. Mr Liddell, of Ravensworth Castle.