HAWK DAY-OWL. 405 



Wings rather long, rounded ; the first quill intermediate be- 

 tween the fifth and sixth, the third longest, the fourth scarcely 

 two twelfths shorter ; the outer four having the outer web at- 

 tenuated ; the first in the greater part of its length, and the 

 second toward the end, with the filaments thickened, and a 

 little separated. Tail rather long, much rounded, the lateral 

 being two inches shorter than the middle feathers. 



The bill is pale yellow or yellowish-white, the claws dusky, 

 the iris pure yellow. The facial disk greyish-white, anteriorly 

 mixed with black filaments. The upper part of the head and the 

 hind-neck are brownish-black, the former with numerous round- 

 ish white spots, of which there are three on each feather, the lat- 

 ter with two broad longitudinal bands of white spots ; the facial 

 disk margined behind with blackish-brown. The upper parts 

 are chocolate-brown, with white spots, which are larger on the 

 scapulars, and disposed in bars on the rump and upper tail- 

 coverts. Both webs of the quills, excepting the outer of the 

 first and second, and the inner of the last five, marked with 

 transverse elliptical white spots. Tail with about eight bands of 

 narrow oblong white spots ; the quills and tail-feathers tipped 

 with white. Throat greyish-white, fore part of neck with a 

 semicircular band of white, and another of brownish-black ; 

 the lower parts white, barred with dusky, the bars on the ab- 

 domen and feet fainter, and on the lower tail-coverts greyish- 

 brown. 



Length to end of tail 15 inches, to end of wings 12 ; wing 

 from flexure 9f ; tail 7h ; bill along the ridge 1 /^ ; tarsus 1 ; 

 first toe /j, its claw \% ; second toe ~\, its claw \^ ; third 

 toe \%^ its claw |§ ; fourth toe i%, its claw {u. 



Female. — The female, which is considerably larger, resem- 

 bles the male, but has the ground colour of the upper parts of 

 a lighter tint, and the white markings smaller. 



Length to end of tail 17 inches ; bill along the ridge 1/^ ; 

 wing from flexure 10 ; tail 8 ; tarsus 1^^ ; first toe y\, its 

 claw \l ; third toe {^, its claw \l. 



Habits. — This bird inhabits the northern parts of both con- 



