XXn INTRODUCTION. 



Nyctala, C. L. Brehm. — Bill short, decurved from the base ; cere rudimentary ; 

 nostrils nearly circular ; under mandible notched. Ear-conches large, asym- 

 metrical, and furnished in front with a well-developed operculum. Head 

 large, the asymmetry of the aural region extending to the skull. Facial 

 disk large and nearly complete. Wings long, rounded. Tail short. Tarsus 

 and toes thickly feathered (p. 299). 



Athene, Bote. — Bill decurved from the base ; cere short and swollen ; nostrils 

 oval ; lower mandible sinuated. Auditory conch large, the orifice small and 

 without an operculum. Facial disk not well defined. Wings large, the third 

 and fourth quills nearly equal in length. Tarsus long, covered with short 

 feathers ; toes above with bristles only, instead of feathers. Head round, 

 large, and without tufts (p. 301). 



Nyctea, Stephens. — ^Bill decurved from the base ; nostrils large, oval ; cere 

 short ; upper mandible smooth, lower mandible notched. Facial disk 

 incomplete. Orifice of the ears moderate, without operculum. Wings of 

 moderate size ; the third quill the longest, second and fourth nearly equal. 

 Tail rounded and of moderate length. Tarsus and toes thickly covered with 

 feathers. Head large, round, not furnished with tufts of feathers (p. 303). 



SURNIA, DumtSril. — Bill decurved from the base and much hidden by feathers ; 

 no.strils small and rounded ; cere short ; upper mandible slightly undulated ; 

 lower mandible notched. Facial disk nearly obsolete. Orifice of the ears 

 small, without operculum. Wings short ; first quill equal to seventh, second 

 longer than fifth, third and fourth longest and nearly equal. Tarsus rather 

 short and — with the toes — thickly feathered. Tail long and graduated. 

 Head flat and without tufts (p. 305). 



Scors, Savigity. — Bill much decurved from the base, cere small, under mandible 

 notched. Nostrils round. Facial disk incomplete above the eyes ; auditory 

 conch small, and without an operculum. Wings long, reaching to the end 

 of the tail. Tarsus rather long, feathered in front ; the toes naked. Head 

 furnished with two tufts of feathers (p. 307). 



Bubo, Dunu'ril. — Bill short, strong, curved, compressed at the point. Nostrils 

 pierced in the cere, large, oval or rounded. Facial disk incomplete. 

 Auditory opening small, oval, without an operculum. Wings rather short. 

 .Tarsus and toes covered with feathers ; claws long. Head furnished with two 

 tufts of feathers (p. 309). 



Order ACCIPITRES. 



Family \'ULTURID.E. 



Gyps, Savigiiy. — Bill strong, thick, and deep, with a short cere, culmen some- 

 what abruptly hooked. Nostrils naked and oval. Head slender and covered 

 with short down, as is most part of the neck ; above the shoulders a rufl'of 

 elongated feathers. Wings long ; the first quill short, the fourth the longest. 

 Tail of twelve or fourteen feathers. Legs and feet strong ; claws slightly 

 hooked ; toes long, the middle toe rather exceeding the tarsus and united 

 at its base to the outer toe by a membrane (p. 311). 



Neophron, Savigny. — Bill straight, slender, elongated, rounded above, encircled 

 at the base by a long naked cere ; upper mandible with straight edges. 



