MORPHOLO&T Oi^ THE OWLS. 249 



Ft. ventralis. — The median branch is very broad posteriorly. 

 Pt. alaris : — 



Tectrices. — The major coverts were moulting. 

 T. medice. — The 6tli median cubital covert was much shorter than the 5th, as usual. 

 T. minores — The same remarks apply to this series as to the t. medice. 

 Pt.femoralis. — Femoro-crural band terminating at the knee-joint. 

 Bhamplwtheca. — Cere short, slightly inflated. 

 Podotheca. — Densely feathered. 

 TJropygium. — Napiforin. 



Speotyto cunicularia, Molina. 



Pteryla capitis : — 



Loreal area. — Divided by an ajitei'iuin into two portions: an anterior, running 

 round the base of the bill, and a posterior, encircling the anterior region of the eye. 

 This latter is continuous at its lower posterior angle, immediately above the gape, with 

 a single row of feathers running round the base of the lower eyelid and upwards to its 

 posterior corner. The loreal apterium separates this row from the feathers of the ramal 

 area. 



O c u 1 a r a r e a. — The single row of feathers above described as forming a continuation 

 of the lower limb of the loreal area forms the lowermost boundary of this area. Above 

 it, separated by a broad apterium, is another single row of feathers ; above this are two 

 other rows, each separated by an apterium. The upper eyelid is clothed witli numerous 

 rows of small, downy feathers. A. very considerable crescentic apterium sejiarates the 

 uppermost rows from the featliei's of the fronto-parietal area. The rims of the eyelids 

 are fringed with some 3 rows of feathers, decreasing rapidly in size as they approach the 

 free edge. The hindmost are characterized by the production of the shaft outwards beyond 

 the vane. In the outermost, nothing but the shafts remains, and these form " eyelashes." 

 Circumaural fold : — 



Preaural fold (PL 28. fig. 5). — This fold is very feebly developed. Along its 

 free edge is a single row of elongated narrow-vaned feathers. They are somew^hat 

 curved, the concavity being turned towards the head so as to form a feathery operculum. 



Postaural fol d. — Of greater extent than the preaural. It supports, along its free 

 edge, a row of feathers precisely similar to those on the opercular fold. They are over- 

 lapped by the feathers of the preaural fold. (PL 28. fig. 5.) 



Ramal area not extending backwards as far as the angle of the jaw. 



Inter ramal area. — Anteriorly, from the region at the level of the gape to the 

 symphysis of the mandibles, surrounded by an apterium, the posterior portion expanded 

 so as to merge with the ramal area. 



Apt. colli laterale terminating at the base of the lower half of the circumaural fold, 

 and embracing the region of the angle of the mandible. 



Pt. colli dorsalis. — Borne upon lateral folds, not closely investing the neck. 



Pt. sjmialis (PL 26). — The arms of the interscapular fork, arising in the middle of 



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