MOEPHOLOGY OF THE OWLS. 255 



Clmos. — There is a small claw on the pollex ; there is also an indication of a claw in 



Digit II. 



Stage II. 



Pt. coj^ntis. — Only the feathers of the loreal area and the region about the eye yet 

 indicated. The position of the trunk-feathers is almost as plainly indicated as in 

 Stage III. In the pteryla alaris, however, only the remiges and dorsal major coverts 



are yet suggested. 



Stage I. 

 The skin as yet perfectly smooth. 



Carine brama, Temm.* 



This embryo almost exactly corresponds to Stage III. of Asio accipitrUms. 

 Pterylte : — 



Pf. capitis. — ^The feathering of the upper -part of the head not differentiated into 

 distinct areas. 



I n t e r r a m a 1 are a. — Expanding cit the level of the gape to join the ramal area. 



Pf. spinalis. — The interscapular fork differs markedly from that of C. noctua (p. 250), 

 in that there are well-marked interscaj)ular branches present as in Asio, Scops, &c. ; they 

 terminate over the region of the free end of the scapula. In the adult mentioned the 

 interscapular fork is barely perceptible. 



There is a well-marked lumbar fork, the branches of which arise near the anterior 

 border of the ilium, are widely divergent, and extend on to the axillary membrane. In 

 this also this species differs from the adult C. noctua, in which there is no lumbar fork. 



Pf. femoralis. — Pemoro-crural band terminates at knee-joint. 



Both digits, I. and II., of the wing are furnished with claws. 



Nyctala Tengmalmi, Gm. 



Stage IV. — Ai*eas of feather-distribution as in the adult. There is a claw on both 

 poUex and index digits. Tlie external aperture of the ear is oval in form ; its vertical 

 axis is nearly twice that of the longitudinal axis of the closed eyelid ; it is entirely closed 

 by the sclerotic ring, which comes quite to the surface. 



Stage III. — The form of the interramal tract can can be weU studied here. It is 

 very broad on the throat, and narrows suddenly on the upper part of the neck. 



Pt. spinalis. — The lumbar stem appears to be continued forwards, in the form of two 

 single parallel rows of feathers, to join the free ends of the interscapular branches. It 

 is cleft in front of the oU-glaud. 



Stage II. — The papillsje are just appearing ; their distribution appears to be the same 

 as in Staa;e III. 



^o^ 



Strix flammea, Linn. 



The embryos of this species represent Stages III. to V. That corresponding to 

 Stage III. is most instructive, and best preserved ; and from this the following description 

 is taken, the remaining stages being compared with this. 



* For this most beautifully-preserved specimen I have to thank my friend Mr. .Jesse of Lucknow. 

 SECOIsD series. — ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 35 



