Birds of Gazaland. 419 



cere was very dark brown, the irides were almost black, and 

 the feet blackish grey/' The back in this specimen is black 

 with only faint traces of the white spots. 



214. Syrnium "woodfordi. Woodford's Owl. 



Singuni : " Isikova " ; occasionally, to distinguish it from 

 other species, " Isikova esincani '' (Small Owl) or " Isikova 

 esibungwini " (Wood-Owl). 



E/h. Woodford's Owl occurs in wooded glens as well as in 

 Chirinda, and its call may frequently be heard at night, when 

 it is repeated, with peculiar insistence on the occurrence of 

 any disturbance or noise, as when a leopard calls or a party 

 of Hornbills flies off on the approach of a lantern. My tame 

 bird of this species forms a great contrast in its habits and 

 disposition to an individual of Bubo maculosus which is its 

 fellow-prisoner. Unlike the latter, it remains exceedingly 

 sleepy all day and is usually to be found with eyes half 

 closed and head well down between the shoulders. If 

 spoken to it invariably turns its head slightly and replies by 

 a rapidly-repeated slight clapping of the bill, accompanied 

 by a rapid blinking of the nictitating membrane, the eyelid 

 remaining half closed all the time. It will sometimes keep 

 up a long friendly conversation in this way if one continues 

 to reply, never, however, opening its eyes or rousing itself 

 in the least. At night when awake it quite justifies the 

 Kafir idea of Owls as the most foolish of birds, flying 

 invariably to the wrong place for its food, and sometimes 

 backing away from it in alarm when it has found it. It 

 will usually hold its food up in one claw and eat somewhat 

 after the manner of a Parrot, transferring it to the other 

 when tired. It is very tame and greatly enjoys having its 

 head scratched, particularly between the eyes, standing quietly 

 with its beak on the table while this operation is in progress, 

 and uttering a contented little chirrup, very different from 

 its usual wearisome hiss. It is particularly fond of bathing, 

 completely submerging its face and shaking its head vigor- 

 ously from side to side, splashing the water in all directions 

 and incidentally sprinkling its plumage. When five months 



