MOEPHOLOGT OF THE OWLS. 239 



Tectrices : — 



T.majores. — Dorsal major coverts of tlie cubital remiges unfortunately moulting. The 

 6th covert not fully developed in one wing and absent in the other. In both wings, 

 however, the old 5th and 7th coverts remain, and furnish a point of interest in that the 

 5th is considerably shorter than the 7th. The coverts from the 7th inwards gently 

 decreasing in leng th 



T. medics. — The dorsal median coverts increase rapidly in length from 1-5, and are 

 the longest in the row. The 5tli is considerably longer than the 6th. 



T. minores. — The dorsal minor coverts resemble the median in that 1-5 in each row are 

 longer than the feathers lying proximally ; the difference is less marked in each row 

 from behind forwards. 



Parapteron and Hypopteron, se-e Bubo virginianus (p. 236). The description is from a 

 fresh specimen from the Zoological Gardens, and therefore better for study than in the 

 present species — a spirit sjiecimen. 



Pt.femoralis. — Femoro-crural band terminating some distance below the knee. 



Ft. cruralis. — Continued downwards on to the acrotarsium and acropodium. In the 

 latter region the feathers are not sufficiently large to conceal the skin. Base of the 

 terminal phalanx clothed with scales. 



Jxliamphotheca. — The cere having the anterior margin sharply defined against the 

 culmen, much as in Accipitres, slightly swollen immediately around the external 

 aperture of the nostrils. 



TJropygium. — In form of an elongated cone, bearing 3 apertures at the tip. 



Bubo lacteus, Steph. 



Fteryla capitis : — 



Fronto-parietal are a. — Resembles in general conformation that of B. ignavus, 

 but not so sharply defined. The cut bases of the " ear "-tufts not easily distinguishable 

 from the rest of the feathers of the head. 



Ramal are a. — Very broad posteriorly, encroaching upon the throat ; not continued 

 backwards so far as the proximal end of the mandible. 



Inter ramal are a. — Connected with the ramal by two separate lateral branches, 



one some distance behind the region of the gape, the other near the articulation of the 

 jaw. 



Best of the feathering of the head almost identical with that of B. ignavus. 



Apt. colli laterale. — Extending upwards and forwards in the form of a long narrow 

 space behind the postaiu'al fold, terminating about its ixdddlc. It is cut off by a broad 

 baud of feathers from the small apterium lying to the inner side of the bases of the 

 ear-tufts. 



Ft. colli (lorsalis.— With, vertical and lateral neck-folds slightly developed, less than 

 in B. maximus. 



Ft. spinalis. — Interscapular fork arising in the upper fourth of the interscapular 

 region ; the arms extend to the end of the scapula. 



Lumbar fork arising rather below the middle of the preacetabular part of the ilium ; 



SECOND SERIES. — ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 33 



