History of British animals - University of Guam Marine Laboratory

58 BIRDS. ACCIPITRES. Strix.Strix, Will. Om. 65. Sibb. Scott. 15 Tawny Owl and Brown Owl, Penn.Brit. Zool. i. 208 Strix stridula, Linn. Syst.i. 133— S. aluco, Ternm.Orn. i. 89—Screech -Owl, Brown-Owl, Wood-Owl— W, Dylluan frech,Aderyn-y-Cyrph ; G, Cumhachag, Cail leach oidcho Near woods andhouses, not uncommon.Length 14, breadth 33 inches; weight 12 ounces. Plumage reddish-brown,with black, striped, and mottled with dusky, with some white spots on theauricles, scapulars, and wing-coverts. Quills and tail barred with reddishbrownand black ; first, second, third, fourth and fifth quills with the innermargin abbreviated a ; slight concavity in the margin of the outer web of thesecond, third, and fourth. In the female the isplumage of a redder colour.Breeds in old trees.Eggs 2 or 3, of a dull white. Feeds on young hares,pigeons, and mice.33. S. nyctea, Snowy-Owl.— Bill and claws black, iridesyellow.Lin. Sj'st.i. 132. Bullock, Lin. Trans, xi. 175. Edmonstone, Wern.Mem. iv. 157- Temm. Orn. i. 82—Inhabits Zetland.Length 2 feet, breadth 5 feet 5 inches. Plumage white, with transversestreaks of brown or dusky. In old birds, the plumage is wholly white ;in theyoung, the spots and bars are more numerous. Tail rounded, about thelength of the wings. Supposed to breed in Zetland and Orkney. Accordingto Mr Edmonstone, it rests generally beneath some stony projection, whichprotects it from the direct influence of the sun. Frequents solitary elevatedplaces. Preys chiefly on sandpipers and mice. Hoots when irritated, likethe preceding species.34. S. passerina.Little Owl.— Bill and claws brown, tipof the former yellow; irides yellow.Noctua minor, Will. Orn. 69 Strix pass. Linn. Syst.i. 133. Penn. Brit.Zool. i, 211. Temm. Orn. i. 92— W, Coeg Ddylluan —In England,rare.Length 1, breadth 14 inches. Plumage, above, greyish-brown, with whitespots breast white ; ; remainder, below, reddish-white, with cinereous brownspots.The female has reddish spots on the neck. Breeds in holes in oldwalls. Eggs 2 or 4, rounded, white. Feeds on mice and small birds—It isuncertain whether this species breeds in England, or is only an occasionalvisitant.PASSERES.I. The first joints ofthe outer and middle toes connected bymembranes.• Gape remarkably large.BUI wide at the base ; a little hookedat the point.Fissirostres.•f Nostrils open. Wings long, flight rapid.Hirundo.Cypselus.ff Nostrils tubulur.Caprimulgus.** Gape of the ordinary size.•f Upper mandible with a notch in the margin. Dektirostres,