TUFTED OWLET. 445 



four-twelfths of an inch long. The nostrils are round- 

 ish, large, in the fore part of the cere. 



The plumage is full, close, rather compact ; the fea- 

 thers in general ovate and rounded. The hypochon- 

 drial tufts, and those on the femurs, are very long ; the 

 feathers on the abdomen and tibia downy, on the tarsi 

 short, rounded and compact. The wings are long, the 

 quills all broad and rounded ; the third primary longest, 

 the second almost as long, the fourth next, the first in- 

 termediate between the fifth and sixth. The tail is of 

 moderate length, very slightly rounded, of twelve near- 

 ly straight, broad, rounded feathers. On the sides of 

 the head, beyond the eyes, are two large tufts of about 

 twelve feathers. The facial disks are incomplete, being 

 discontinued over the eyes. The ruff is inconspicuous, 

 its feathers broad and but slightly curved. 



The general colour of the plumage is light grey, 

 tinged Avith yellowish-red on the fore part of the back, 

 each feather with a central line of brownish-black, and 

 transversely undulated with the same. The outer sca- 

 pulars have a large white spot on the outer web near 

 the end. The lower parts are lighter. The quills are 

 banded and undulated ; the primaries with conspicuous 

 greyish-white spots on the outer web between the 

 greyish-brown bands ; their inner webs darker. The 

 tail is similarly undulated and barred. The tarsal fea- 

 thers are brownish-grey, with a central blackish-brown 

 line on each. 



Length to end of tail 8^ inches ; wing from flexure 

 6j^^ ; tail S^^ ; bill along the ridge j ; tarsus 1 ; hind 

 toe j^^, its claw Ji ; second toe ||, its claw ^^^ ; third 

 toe j^^f its claw || ; fourth toe i^^, its claw i|. 



