4^6 ULULA OTUS. 



nearly equal, that of the middle toe with a thin sharp 

 edge, not serrated. 



The plumage is extremely soft and downy. The fa- 

 cial disks are complete, and composed of circular series 

 of weak, slender, slightly recurved feathers, having re- 

 mote harbs ; surrounding which is a ruff formed of se- 

 veral rows of oblong incurved feathers, having the 

 barbs close. The feathers of the forehead are appa- 

 rent between the ruffs, although that part is very nar- 

 row ; the bill is partially concealed by the plumage ; 

 the feathers of the head and neck are oblong, the latter 

 very long, of the fore part of the back ovate and rounded, 

 of the hind part short, broad, and entirely downy, of the 

 lower parts long and downy ; the feathers of the breast 

 and sides are rather more compact than those of the 

 back ; on the tibia they are short, extremely soft and 

 silky ; on the tarsi and toes, small, soft and blended. 



The wings are long and broad ; the primary quills 

 very broad, rounded, with slender shafts, the outer a 

 little incurved towards the end, the first sinuate on the 

 inner web near the end, the second very slightly so ; 

 the second longest, the third a little shorter, the fourth 

 a little longer than the first ; the secondary quills, which 

 are fifteen, are slightly decurved, broad and rounded, 

 the three inner shorter and more feeble. The outer 

 quill in its whole length, the second towards the end, 

 and the first alular feather, have the barbs disunited 

 and recurved at the points ; and the inner webs of the 

 quills and tail-feathers, are covered with an extremely 

 soft down. The tail is rather short, slightly decurved, 

 slightly rounded, of twelve broad, rounded 'feathers, 

 having feeble shafts. 



