OWLET. 443 



derate length, slightly rounded, of twelve slightly de- 

 curved, rounded featliers. 



In this genus I would place several small owls, some 

 of them tufted, others not, which agree in having the 

 small conchs of the genus Syrnia, and slender feet ; the 

 toes always, and part of the tarsus sometimes, bare. The 

 tufted species. Scops Aldrovandi of authors. Bubo nu- 

 dipes of Vieillot, and others, are in a considerable de- 

 gree allied to the genus Bubo ; while Strix nudipes of 

 Vieillot, and Strix portoricensis, represent the other 

 section. The species mentioned have a strong mutual 

 resemblance even in the markings of their plumage. 

 The genus Scops, therefore, according to my idea of it, 

 is precisely intermediate between the genera Bubo and 

 Syrnia. 



