426 



BUBO MAXIMUS. 



THE GREAT EAGLE-OWL. 



Tufts of about nine feathers, projecting upwards of 

 two inches beyond the plumage of the head ; the upper 

 parts variegated with dark brown and light reddish- 

 yellow ; the lower of the latter colour, marked with 

 longitudinal blackish-brown spots, and very numerous 

 transverse undulating lines; the facial disk greyish- 

 brown, obscurely barred ; the bill and claws greyish- 

 blue at the base, black at the end. 



Adult Female. — The Great Eagle-Owl, Le Grand 

 Due of the French, is distinguished from all the Bri- 

 tish birds of the family by its great size and peculiar 

 markings. In the former respect the Snowy Owl may 

 equal it, but that species is white and tuftless, where- 

 as the Eagle- Owl is mottled with light reddish-yellow 

 and dark brown, and has two very conspicuous tufts 

 on the head. This species is, moreover, remarkable 

 among the owls by its robust constitution. Its body 

 is muscular and firm, the thorax about six inches deep, 

 and nearly of the same breadth anteriorly, although 

 the abdomen is only three inches across. Tlie neck is 

 short, and rather stout, the head very large, short, 

 flattened above, its sides sloping forwards, so that the 

 transverse axis of the eye forms an angle of about 1 5° 

 with the median line of the head. The wings are large, 



