Birds from British East Africa. 517 



149. Phasmoptynx capensis. African Short-eared Owl. 

 Phasmoptynx capensis Kaup. 



Bill and claws very dark grey. 



On the Kauti Plains this Short-eared Owl was rather 

 common, and we used to put it up out of the thin grass when 

 riding or walking across the flats ; it was never seen 

 perching on a tree. We did not find this species anywhere 

 else. 



150. EuBO LACTEUs. Vcrrcaux's Eagle-Owl. 

 Bubo lac tens Temm. 



Iris brown ; bill light greenish-grey ; feet white. 



Verreaux's Eagle-Owl was not uncommon, and generally 

 seen by the sides of rivers amongst the tall trees. One day 

 we saw three Egyptian Kites mobbing one in a tree. 



151. Bubo cineraceus. Cineraceous Eagle-Owl. 

 Bubo cineraceus Gu^r. 



Bill and claws black. 



This species was very common in the thickly wooded 

 dongas round Theki. I put five out of one small tree. 



152. Scops capensis. Cape Scops Owl. 

 Scops capensis Smith. 



Iris bright yellow ; bill light grey ; claws dark grey. 



This species was only seen once. A female was shot, 

 sitting on the exposed bough of a tree in broad sunlight, 

 near the Athi River, on February 3rd. It was very small, 

 and I hoped would prove to be Scops Uganda ; however, it 

 was S. capensis, and was the only example of the species 

 which we got. 



153. Falco biarmicus. African Lanner. 

 Falco biarmicus Temm. 



Iris light brown ; bill yellow at base, tip blue ; feet 

 yellow. 



The African Lanner was not uncommon, but very shy, 

 and seldom came within gunshot. Three examples were 

 obtained at Kallima Theki : two old males and an immature 

 female. 



SER. IX, VOL. lit. 2 M 



