252 MR. W, p. PTCRAFT ON THE 



Interramal are a. — The only specimen of a Barn Owl tvhicli I have been able 

 to procure I owe to the kindness of Dr. Sclater. Unfortunately it is so damaged in this 

 region that Mr. Meinertzbagen and I have been obliged to fall back upon Nitzsch's inter- 

 pretation and restore the figure after that given by him. 



P e r i ph e r y o f t h e D i s c. — This is more sharply demarcated than in any other Owl so 

 far examined. The feathers taking part in its formation are seated in a deep fold of skin 

 which stands out abruptly from the general contoiir of the head in the form of a sharp 

 ridge. Its anterior portion is contribvited by the superior border of the loreal are;i ; 

 running backwards into the postaural fold, and downwards along the interior border of 

 the mandible, it finally dies out in the region corresponding to the level of the gape. The 

 feathers in the immediate region of the external aperture of the ear are very long, witb 

 narrow, discontinuous vanes, and all much curved forwards, so as to form a hollow around 

 the ear, and a very considerable lateral extension of the postaural fold. 



Apt. colli lutcrale. — Terminating at the base of the jjostaural fold, some distance 

 below the level of the external aperture of the ear. 



PL colli dorsalis. — Not borne upon lateral neck-folds, but closely investing the neck, 

 therein differing from all other Owls so far examined. It forms a diamond-shaped 

 expansion in the middle of the neck. 



Tt. spinalis. — Interscapular fork arising within the interscapular region. Arms narrow, 

 3 rows of closely-packed feathers, not extending as far as the free end of the scapula. 



The arms of the lumbar fork arise over the anterior end of the ilium, cross the free 

 end of tlie scapular, and terminate on the axillary membrane. The stem is truncated 

 posteriorly, terminating some distance in front of tlio oil-gland. 



PL colli veiitralis. — Bifurcating on the lower \ of the neck, branches very narrow; 

 feathers set in oblique rows of 4 feathers in each row. 



PL ventralis. — Outer branch moderately broad. Median branch narrow, not free 

 posteriorly, but continued backwards to join the inner branch over the region of the 

 posterior lateral process of the sternum. The "hook" is given off just before this 

 junction takes place. Inner branch very distinct ; coming off from the median opposite 

 a point corresponding with the region of the ventral \ of the furculum, it is continued 

 backwards to join its fellow of the opposite side over the free ends of the pubes. 



PL alaris : — 



Bemiges. — Metacarpo-digitals 11, cubitals 15, the innermost not readily distinguished 

 from their coverts. 



Teetrices. — For i\\Q most part missing in this specimen. 



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



PL cniralis. — Feathers on the acrotarsium degenerate, the shaft only remaining. They 

 occur in groups of 3, of which ,the centre one, as described by Meijcre, is much the 

 longest; the two lateral shafts being in most cases minute, and sometimes absent. Each 

 group of 3 is seated under the anterior border of a soft, swollen scale. On the aero- 

 podium the scales become firmer and the feather-remnants fewer. 



BliampJiotheca. — Cere closely investing the base of the beak, nostrils pierced in its 

 lower anterior border. 



