MOEPHOLOGY OF THE OWLS. 235 



Pi. alaris. — 

 Tectrices : — 



T. majores. — The dorsal major coverts show an interesting departure from the general 

 rule, in that, instead of the break in the uniformitj' of the length of these coverts 

 occurring after the 5th covert, it occurs after the 4th, the 5th being slightly shorter 

 than the 1th, but, as usual, longer than the 6th. 



T. medue. — The break in the uniformity of the length of the coverts is here very 

 marked, the 6th covert being much sliorter than the 5th. 



T. minores. — The remarks apply to the first two rows of these coverts as to T. medics ; 

 in the 3rd row the differeace is not so marked. 



Such other points as are unnoticed are indistinguishable from A. accipitrinns. 



Bubo ignavus, Torst. 

 Pt. capitis : — 

 F r n t o - p a r i e t a 1 arc a. — The two areas included under the name can here be 

 readily distinguished. The frontal area is represented by a broad median band of feathers 

 running from the base of the beak to a point corresponding with a line drawn across 

 the head behind the eyes, where the tract rapidly expands to form the parietal area. 

 This distinction is not so readUy seen in the case of B. viaculosus on account of the 

 smaller size of the feathers. 



The feathers forming the ear-tufts, in a single row, l)ounded posteriorly by an apterium, 

 the anterior exti'emity of the ((pt. colli laterale. 

 C i r c u m a u r a 1 area : — 



P r e a u r a 1 f o 1 d. — This is but slightly developed ; there is a double I'ow of feathers 

 along its free edge, the bases of Avliich form a " rim." 



Postaural fold. — The upward and downwardly directed feathers along its free 

 edge converging at about the middle of the fold, the bases of which form a " rim." The 

 peripheral disc-feathers terminating on the mandible, just in front of the gape. 



Ocular area. — The rows of feathers encircling the region of the outer wall of the 

 eye can be well studied in this species. 



Loreal area not sharply defined, the lower limb continued backwards to join the 

 feathers at the confluence of the opercular and circmuaural folds. 



Ramal area not extending to the proximal end of the jaw, but turning inwards in 

 the form of a narrow baud on the throat. 



Interramal area. — In the form of a broad tract, bounded on either side by a 

 wide apterium. 



A^it. colli laterale. — Continued upwards from the neck on to the proximal end of the 

 mandible ; Jrom thence it can be traced upwards and forwards on to the crown, where it 

 serves to isolate the row of feathers forming the " ears." The continuity of the space is 

 interrupted, however, by two tracts of feathers, one running from about the middle of 

 the postaural fold, the other from the region immediately above the fold, to the feathers 

 of the occipital area. 



