EGYPTIAN EAGLE OWL 



Bubo ascalaphus 



Arabic, Burna 



Plumage a rich buff-brown, with darker markings of black, 

 brown, and grey. Large wing-feathers and tail broadly 

 barred with blackish brown ; chin and upper throat white ; 

 under-plumage bright golden buff, with blotches and streaks 

 on the flanks ; beak black ; eyes of most intense flame-like 

 orange. Total length, 20 inches. 



This name Eagle Owl is almost more imposing 

 than the bird itself, as, though large, it is much 

 smaller than the Eagle Owl of Europe. 



It is to be found in some of the very largest 

 of the temples, ruined or otherwise, but, as far 

 as my own knowledge goes, not in many of the 

 smaller buildings. Its principal haunts are the 

 steep clifF-like sides of the hills and mountains. 



When staying in the Valley of the Tombs of 

 the Kings, every night regularly as the sun sank 

 behind the ridge, the first weird ** Booom " rang 

 out, soon to be answered by another similar call 

 from another part of the hills, and then, soon and 

 silently, there floated past the big dull brown form. 

 Sailing away to the opposite side, with my glasses 



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