OWLS. 397 



is named the conch. In the large-eared Owls then, the external 

 ear also is called a conch. In our " Long-eared" Owl, Strix 

 Otus, so called on account of its ear-like tufts of feathers, the 

 conch is higher than the skull. Fig. 237, c?, for it extends in a 

 semicircular direction from the base of the lower mandible to 

 above the middle of the eye, and has anteriorly in its whole length 

 an elevated opercular margin. Lastly, in the Barn Owl, Strix 

 flammea, the conch is as long as in the last-mentioned species, 

 but is thinly covered with feathers, and has not distinctly ele- 

 vated margins, but is furnished with an anterior operculum, 

 not extending along more than half its length, Fig. 237, e. 



Were generic characters to be derived solely from the conch, 

 we should have only four genera of Owls : those with a mo- 

 derately large simple aperture, h ; the head tuftless or tufted, the 

 tarsi feathered or bare, very short or rather long, the tail very 

 short, short, or longish ; those with a large aperture, having 

 an anterior operculum in part of its length, c ; those with an 

 excessively developed conch, of which the margins are elevat- 

 ed in their whole length, d ; and lastly, those having an equally 

 elongated conch, without elevated margins, but with an oper- 

 culum, e. These genera, being thus well characterized, mio-ht 

 perhaps suffice ;, but as in other groups we take our characters 

 from the bill, wings, and feet, it may with justice be said that 

 we ought to treat the Owls in the same manner. 



HY^OPSIS OF THE BRITISH GENERA AND SPECIES. 

 GENUS I. SYRNIA. DAY-OWL. 



Bill very short, strong, with the upper outline decurved 

 from the base ; nostrils ovate or elliptical, rather laro-e ob- 

 lique ; conch elliptical, simple, or without operculum its 

 greatest diameter not more than half the height of the skull • 

 facial disks incomplete above the eyes ; ruff incomplete 

 and inconspicuous ; head very large, roundish ; tarsi very 

 short, feathered ; wings very large, the third quill loncrest 



