NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



or even on the ground. The eggs are laid at intervals of a few 

 davs or weeks. Thus nestHngs and eggs are often found in 

 the same nest. The eggs are 2 to 5 in number, and are pure 

 white ovals, not shinv ; size, 1.7 by 1.25. 



Woodford's Owl (Syniium ivoodfordi). (Vol. II., p. 145.) 



Description. — Male : above dark brown, nearlv black in 

 parts, with small white triangular spots. Outer webs of outer 

 scapulars and greater wing coverts are barred with white and 

 brown. Quills dark brown, barred with paler brown. Tail 

 dark brown with live transverse bands. Face grey with a 

 black ring round the eye. Below white with brown bars. 

 Browner on breast, merging to white on abdomen. Toes bare. 

 Iris brown. Bill vellow. Toes vellow. 



Lengthy 14.5 ; wing, 9.3 ; tail, 5.4. 



Female resembles the male both in size and plumage. 



Distribution. — This owl is distributed fairly evenly over 

 South Africa. It ranges as far north as British East Africa. 

 It is nowhere common, but is found more plentifully at 

 Knysna and in Natal than anywhere else in South Africa. 



Habits. — Woodford's owl is only found in and about thick 

 forests and bush. On clear nights the cheerful hooting of this 

 bird is often heard in the bush along the coasts. Its diet 

 consists chiefly of mice and the larger insects. The nest is 

 usually in an old tree stump or some such-like place. No 

 actual nest is built, but just a few sticks are laid in a 

 scooped-out cavity. The eggs are white. They are laid 

 between September and October. Eggs measure 1.75 by 1.4. 



White-faced Owl {Asio leucotis). (Vol. II., p, 145.) 



Description. — Male : above grey, mottled and spotted 

 with darker. Top of head blackish. Row of white spots 

 along the outer scapulars. Tail grey, banded with darker. 

 Face white with a grey patch below the eye, bounded behind 

 by a black margin. Feathers of ear tufts black on outer 



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