414 ULULA BRACHYOTUS. 



four and a half twelfths, continues so for some incheS; 

 gradually contracts to less than two and a half twelfths, 

 and so continues to near the cceca; which are three 

 inches and a quarter long, one-twelfth and a half in 

 diameter at then* commencement, gradually enlarge, 

 and terminate in an oblong sac, the greatest diameter 

 of which is four-twelfths. The rectum is two inches 

 long ; the cloaca funnel-shaped, and one inch in diame- 

 ter. The entire length of the intestine is twenty-six 

 inches. The liver is very large, of two nearly equal 

 lobes ; the gall-bladder large and globular. 



The eyes are very large, the eyelids furnished with 

 broad thin margins, and ciliary fringes of small distant- 

 ly barbed feathers. The nostrils are medial, lateral, 

 large, oblique, oblong, in the fore edge of the cere ; the 

 aperture of the ear large, ellipti9al, the concha extend- 

 ing from over the eye to the base of the lower mandi- 

 ble, curved, with an exterior and an interior flap, beset 

 with recurved feathers. 



The tarsi, which are feathered, are short and stout. 

 The toes also are short and feathered, the third and 

 fourth connected at the base by a short web ; the first 

 shortest and admitting of much lateral motion, the 

 tliird longest, the second and fourth nearly equal. On 

 the hind toe are two terminal scutella, on the rest 

 tliree. 



The plumage, although more compact than that of 

 the mottled tufted-owl, is still extremely soft and 

 blended. The facial disks are complete, and cojnposed 

 of a circular series of weak, slender, slightly recurved 

 feathers, having remote barbs ; surrounding which is a 

 ruff formed of several rows of oblong incurved fea- 



