DESCRIPTION, DISTRIBUTION, HABITS 



Habits. — This owl is comparatively rare, but is found chiefly 

 in the south-eastern parts of the Cape and Natal. It is invari- 

 ably found in the reeds and thick grass near rivers and in vleis. 

 During the day it sleeps on the ground, sheltered by the sur- 

 rounding grass. It lays 3 to 4 white eggs at the side of a tuft 

 of grass in a slight depression on the ground. The eggs are 

 laid between November and December. 



BdiVn 0^\ {St rix fla7it7nea). (Vol. 11., p. 138.) 



Description. — Above, general colour pearly-grey. All the 

 feathers are yellowish-buff at their basal halves. Wing quills 

 banded buff and brown. Tail buff, with three brown trans- 

 verse bands and a paler brown tip. The outside edge of the outer 

 feather white. Facial disc white, except for a brown spot in 

 front of the eye. The surrounding ruff is buff above and white 

 below, with black tipped feathers outside the white ones. 

 Below white, the breast being slightly buff and the whole spotted 

 with brown. Bristles on toes. Iris dark brown. Bill yellow. 

 Feet and toes yellow. 



Length.^ 16.25 J wing, 11.70 ; tail, 4.80. 

 Nestlings are covered with white down. Feathers on first 

 appearance are orange in colour. 



Distribution. — Found all over the world, except on Pacific 

 Isles and New Zealand. It is quite plentiful throughout South 

 Africa, except perhaps the coast lands of Natal. 



Habits. — These owls, like most others, are usually found in 

 pairs. During the day they doze. As their name implies, 

 they frequent disused barns and outhouses, also mining shafts 

 and drives. Their prey consists chiefly of rats and mice which 

 they hunt at night. They are thus of great use to farmers. 

 The bones and fur of their prey are ejected in the form of pellets, 

 which are always found in great abundance below their nesting 

 places. Their cry is n'ot a hoot like most other owls, but is a 

 somewhat weird shriek. Both the adults and young also make 

 a peculiar snoring noise. It makes no nest, but lays its eggs 

 on the bare boards of a loft, in holes in walls, in hollow trees, 



147 



