NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



and some of coverts edged with white. The quills are dark 

 brown with a paler cross band. Tail feathers banded in same 

 fashion. Bristles of the lores black with white bases. Facial 

 disc white, set off on either side by a black band. Below 

 mixed brown and white, darkest on breast, and getting lighter 

 on thighs and under tail coverts. Iris hazel (dark). Bill pale 

 ashy-horn. Cere greyish-blue. Upper eyelid pink. Claws 

 dusky-black. 



Lengthy 28.0 ; wing, 17.25 ; tail, 9.5. 



Distrihution. — Spread over the greater portion of Africa, 

 south of Abyssinia. Distributed throughout South Africa, 

 though nowhere common. It is found mostly in the western 

 and dryer districts. 



Habits, — This owl is usually seen in pairs. During the 

 day it retires to the deepest shade of the high trees in thickly 

 wooded kloofs ; there it dozes in peace. At night it comes forth 

 in search of food, and preys on small mammals, such as hares 

 and rats, and is not above eating insects. It is destructive 

 to poultry keepers, as it carries off their fowls when the latter 

 are allowed to roost in trees. It emits a curious hollow, uncanny 

 hoot. This has earned for it the name of " death bird " by 

 the natives. The nest is usually built in a high tree. It is a 

 large flat structure, composed of sticks, lined with finer twigs, 

 neatly put together. The eggs are invariably 2 in number, 

 and are pure white, rounded at both ends ; they measure 

 2.35 by 2.0. 



Spotted Eagle Owl {Buho m.aculosns). (Vol. II., p. 127.) 



Description. — Above mottled dark brown, fulvous, and white, 

 being darkest on the head. Quills dark brown with pale 

 fulvous cross bands ; tail feathers the same, except two centre 

 ones, which are tipped with white. Lores, chin, and patch 

 on throat white. Ear coverts greyish, barred with black, and 

 with a transverse line of black behind, forming boundary of 

 facial disc. Lower surface, thighs, and legs transversely barred 



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