402 SYRNIA. DAY-OWL. 



of the ear simple, elliptical, very large, although comparatively 

 small, being less than half the height of the head, its slightly 

 elevated margin fringed with linear feathers. 



Head very large, broad, rounded, anteriorly narrow^ed ; neck 

 short ; body of moderate size, much narrow^ed behind. Legs 

 rather short, stout ; tibia of moderate length ; tarsus short, 

 feathered ; toes short, covered with feathers of which the fila- 

 ments are hair-like, but in some species wanting, the shafts 

 alone remaining ; all with two scutella at the end, padded and 

 with flattened papilla; beneath ; the first very short, with much 

 lateral motion ; the fourth longer, and reversible ; the third 

 longest, but not much exceeding the second. Claws long, 

 well curved, tapering, very acute, compressed, rounded above, 

 slightly convex on the sides, narrow beneath ; the third with a 

 dilated inner edge. 



Plumage very full and soft, somewhat compact above, blended 

 beneath. Facial disks incomplete above the eyes, their fea- 

 thers with loose filaments ; the anterior longer, more bristly, 

 and partially concealing the bill. Ruff incomplete and incon- 

 spicuous. Feathers in general oblong, rounded ; those of the 

 abdomen downy, of the legs with soft disunited filaments. 

 Wings large, broad, rounded ; primary quills broad and 

 rounded ; the first four sinuate on both webs, more deeply on 

 the inner ; secondary quills fifteen, broad and rounded. Tail 

 broad, rounded, of twelve slightly arched, rounded feathers. 



The largest species of this genus, Syrnia nyctea, has the 

 appearance of a very robust bird, although, as usual in this 

 family, the greater part of its bulk is made up of feathers. 

 The Hawk-Owl, Strix funerea of Linnreus, is of a more elong- 

 ated form, but belongs to the same genus. The Little or Pas- 

 serine Owl, Strix passerina of some, and S. nudipes of others, 

 seems to me to approximate so nearly in the form and size of 

 the ear, and in other respects, although its tarsi are longer, and 

 its toes less feathered, that I think there is little reason for 

 instituting a new genus for its reception. Strix cunicularia, 

 which has much longer tarsi, forms the ultimate gradation ; 

 and yet it does not differ more from Strix funerea, than the 

 Sparrow Hawk from the Goshawk. Those who unite the 



