OTUS.
Of small size; wing under zoo m.m.; ear tufts distinct ; partly diurnal; nest generally in holes in trees.
Otus scops scops (L.). Scots OWL. Fr. Petit duc ; Ger.
Zwergohreule ; Assiolo.
? Grey brown, finely vermiculated with dark brown mixed with rufous and with dark brown shaft streaks ; primaries barred white on outer web; outer webs of some scapulars rufous ; facial disc grey, freckled and with a posterior dark brown frill ; feathers of abdomen white finely freckled and with dark brown shaft streaks ; 1st primary between 5th and 6th, sometimes between 4th and 5th, 2nd and 3rd generally longest. Bill bluish black. Tarsi feathered. Feet grey, claws pale horn. Iris yellow. Wing 145-162. Tarsus 25-30. Bill to.
Preeds.—From E. Canaries through N.W. Africa ; S. Europe north to S. France, Switzerland, Italy, S. Austria, S. Hungary,
Rumania, S. Russia (especially in S.E.), Central Russia (local), but occasionally north to Petrograd ; Asia Minor and Palestine. Migrates ; occurs Malta and Egypt on passage, especially spring. Winters tropical Africa. Rare visitor to C. Europe and Britain.
0. scops pulchellus (Pallas). Generally greyer in colour with many white spots on upper parts. Wing longer, 151-164.
Preeds.—E. Russia (Orenburg and Ural), and S.W. Siberia. Occurs in N.E. Africa in winter.
0. scops powelli Meinertzhagen. Intermediate between "0. s. scups" and " 0. s. cyprius" (a resident race in Cyprus) ; reddish brown of former lacking above but a lighter grey than the latter. Wing 147-16o.
Breeds. —Crete.