400 STRIGIN.E. 



densely feathered ; wings with the first quill about the length 

 of the fourth, the second longest, 



1. Asio Otiis. Mottled Tufted-Oivl. Tufts of about twelve 

 feathers, projecting about an inch ; upper parts light reddish- 

 yellow, spotted and undulated with brown and greyish-white ; 

 lower parts buff-coloured, less spotted ; the eye half encircled 

 with dark brown. 



2. Asio Bracliyotus. Streaked Tufted Old. Tufts of three 

 feathers, projecting about half an inch ; upper parts light 

 reddish-yellow, broadly streaked and barred with brown ; lower 

 parts with narrow brown streaks ; the eye surrounded with 

 brownish black ; many of the scapulars and wing-coverts with 

 a large white spot at the end ; the light bands on the middle 

 tail-feathers with a brown central patch. 



GENUS VI. STRIX. SCREECH-OWL. 



Bill rather short, compressed, with the upper outline straight 

 to the end of the cere, then decurved ; nostrils subovate ; conch 

 of extreme length, semicircular, extending from over the ante- 

 rior angle of the eye to the middle of the lower jaw, beset with 

 filaments, margined with slender feathers, and having a short 

 truncate operculum stiffened with small feathers ; aperture of 

 meatus square ; facial disks very large and complete ; ruff con- 

 spicuous and complete ; head extremely large, somewhat tri- 

 angular ; but the skull not larger than in the last genus, and 

 more elongated ; tarsi rather long, covered with short soft 

 featliers ; toes scaly and bristled ; claw of the third toe with 

 its thin edge serrate. 



1. Strix flammea. European Screech-Owl. Operculum with 

 the feathers complete (they being in the American species re- 

 duced to the tube) ; upper parts light reddish-yellow, varie- 

 gated with ash-grey, and dotted with black and white ; lower 

 parts white, with small dusky spots. 



