BUBONID^ BUBO 251 



The female does not differ from the male either in size or mark- 

 ing to any appreciable extent. 



Distribution. — The Spotted Eagle Owl is spread all over the 

 southern half of the continent, ranging as far north as the Congo 

 on the west, and Ugogo and Lamu in east Africa. It is replaced in 

 west and north-east Africa by a closely- allied sub-species. 



In South Africa this is almost everywhere the commonest owl, 

 and is recorded from nearly all the districts which have been 

 worked over. 



The following are some of the principal localities : Cape 

 Colony — Cape division (Victorin, Zelebor, and S. A. Mus.), Stel- 

 lenbosch, Ceres, Worcester, Middelburg, Graaff Eeinet, Peddle, 

 Kimbcrley, Upington on the Orange river (S. i\.. Mus.), near 

 Aliwal North (Whitehead), Port Elizabeth and East London 

 (Eickard) ; Natal —common (Woodward), Eichmond road and New- 

 castle (Butler) ; Orange Eiver Colony — Bloemfontein (Barratt), 

 Vredefort road (B. Hamilton) ; Transvaal — Potchefstroom and 

 Eustenburg (Barratt), Barberton (Eendall) ; Bechuanaland — 

 Notuani river (Holub) ; Ebodesia — Salisbury district, common 

 (Marshall) ; German south-west Africa — somewhat rare at Eehe- 

 both (Fleck). 



Habits. — The Spotted Eagle Owl is far the commonest owl in 

 South Africa, it is found everywhere and in all sorts of districts, in the 

 forests and bushland, on the open treeless plains and in wild as well 

 as cultivated areas. Layard and others believe it to be partially 

 migratory, as parties of from eight to ten individuals have been 

 observed consorting with one another, but they are also often 

 found in pairs. Their cry is " hoo hoo " in two clear notes, and 

 they also make a cracking sound with their bills, which is very 

 characteristic, and given vent to when disturbed or wounded. 



They prey on mice, moles, rats, and frogs, snakes, and insects 

 of various kinds, and according to the Woodwards will, when 

 opportunity occurs, kill pigeons. Small birds often mob them when 

 they appear during the day, the leaders being the Drongos and 

 the Bulbuls. 



They usually nest on the ground in a slight depression, with 

 little or no attempt at architecture. The eggs are rounded, smooth 

 and white, measuring about 2-0 x 1*65 ; in western Cape Colony 

 they are usually two in number and laid in October or November, 

 but in the upper part of Natal Butler found three eggs which were 

 incubated on June 30. 



