THE BIRDS OF ALGERIA. 43 



possibly have been to a great extent confused with 

 the following species. 



1 84. The Egyptian Eagle Owl Buho ascalaphus, 

 Savigny, is said by Taczanowski to be very rare 

 in winter, commoner in summer in Algeria. So 

 far as is known, it appears to be more of a north- 

 east African species. Its western limits are not 

 clearly defined. It is included as a bird of Algeria 

 by Canon Tristram. 



185. The Loxg-eared Owl ^sio o///.s- (Linnseus), 

 is a winter visitor to Algeria, but there is no reli- 

 able evidence of its ever breeding in the country. 



186. The Short-eared Owl Asio accipitr'nius 

 (Pallas), is said by Loche to be very generally 

 distributed, but whether it is only a winter visitor 

 to Algeria, or breeds sparingly in the country, is still 

 undetermined. In Morocco it is said to interbreed 

 with A:iio capensis (Smith), (a form that ranges 

 from Spain southwards to Natal) ; whether this 

 latter race visits Algeria is not known. 



187. The Scops Owl Scops giu (Scopoli), is a 

 resident in Algeria, but increased in numbers in 

 winter by migrants from Europe. It is said that 

 the resident race is slightly smaller. It breeds in 

 holes in trees. 



188. The Tawny Owl Strix aluco, Gerini, is a 



