68 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST 



The Bush Owl (Syrnium woodfordi) is a thorough bush- 

 loving species ; we found it not uncommon in the bush near 

 Grahamstown. It extends northward to British East Africa. 



The adult bird is dark brown above adorned with three- 

 cornered white spots ; below, white barred with brown. No 

 " ear " tufts. The young bird has the plumage shaded with 

 tawny. It usually breeds in a hollow tree. Length, 14 to 

 14|- inches 



The Eagle Owls (Bubo) are the largest of the South African 

 representatives of the Striges and are all " eared." 



The Cape Eagle Owl (Bubo capensis) is dark brown spotted 

 with reddish-buff ; bill black. It measures about 19| inches 

 in length ; wing, 14f inches. 



It nests in old nests of other birds, or in a nest of its own 

 construction on the bank of a river, and lays two to four 

 pure white eggs. 



It is confined to Cape Colony and Natal. 



The Spotted Eagle Owl (B. maculosus) is smaller than the 

 preceding bird, but like it has a black bill. Length of wing, 

 12| inches. Total length, 20 inches. 



It is recorded from almost everywhere and is the commonest 

 owl in the sub-continent. 



The cry of this bird is a thorough hoot, described by many 

 as " ominous " ; it can be heard from the owl's position on 

 the housetop — or in the bush. The senseless superstition 

 that its cry is an augury of the death of some member of the 

 household attaches as much to this Owl as to the Barn- Owl. 



It subsists on reptiles, frogs, insects, and mice and other 

 small mammals, and is therefore of economic value to the 

 farmer. 



It generally lays its eggs in a depression in the ground. 

 We took several clutches of two eggs each from a nesting 

 site on a rocky ledge in an old quarry, during the month of 



