AYES. 541 



consisting of some rows of sliort curved plumules, which descend 

 behind the auditory apertures and meet below the lower mandible. 

 The auditory apei-tures ai'e usually large, and in some are covered 

 by a fold of skin found at their anterior margin. 



The ci-anial bones are highly pneumatic and have a large circumference. 

 The furcula becomes thin below and sometimes even membranous, as in 

 some climbing birds. The sternum has below on each side two incisures in 

 most species, in some a single one. Two large coeca are present. Compare 

 J. J. Kaup, Uehersicht der Eiden, Oken's his, 1848, s. 753 — 772; Mono- 

 gra;ph of the Oivls — Strigidce, in Jardine's Contrib. to Ornith. 1851, pp. 

 119— 130, 1852, pp. 103—122; T. Cassin, Descriptions of Owls, presumed 

 to be new species, in the collection of the Academy of Nat. Sciences of Phila- 

 delphia; Journal of the Acad, of Nat. Sc. of Philml.; sec. Series, li. 1850 — 

 1854, pp. 51 and foil. 95 foil. PI. iii — v. and PL xii, 



Strix Savigny, Gkay, Kaup, Hyhris Nitzsch^ Bill sub- 

 curved at the base, curved at the tip. Facial disc complete. 

 Bunches of plumes at the sides of forehead none. Wings long, 

 extended beyond the extremity of tail, with second quill longest 

 of all. Tail short, subeven or rounded. Tarsi longer than middle 

 toe, slender, plumed. Toes scutellate anteriorly. 



Sp. Strix flammea L., Buff. PL enl. 440, Gubk. Iconor/r., Ois. PI. 4, fig. 2, 

 Naum. Taf. 47, fig. 2, SusEMiHL Vdgel Eiiropa's, Taf. 46; the tvhite owl, 

 I'effraye, der Schleierkautz, die Thurmeile; the bill in this and other species 

 of this genus is somewhat larger than in the rest of the owls, slightly- 

 curved at the base and more strongly only near the tip. The feathers of 

 the face, or the disc, are pure white ; the belly light rust-colour or dirty 

 white; the back and wings brown and ruddy with white and black spots. 

 This species is dispersed throughout nearly the whole of Europe, the north 

 of Africa and western Asia. It makes its nest in the roofs of old build- 

 ings, churches, towers, &c. A very similar species lives in North America 

 {Strix pratincola Bonap., Strix flammea WiLS.), and another, larger, in 

 Cuba, Strix perlata Lichtenst., Strix furcata Temm., PL col. 432. From 

 South Africa also, from India and especially from Australia, some species 

 of this genus are known. 



Ulula Keyserl. and Blas. {Ulula Cuv. and Syrnmm Sa- 

 VIGNY, Cuv.) Bundles of feathers at forehead none. Auditory 

 apertures large, lunate, furnished at the interior margin with a 

 cover. Wings moderate, with third and foui-th, or fourth and fifth 

 quills longest of all. - Tail rounded or subeven, produced beyond 

 the points of wings. Tarsi and toes plumed. 



^ 1-/3/345, a nocturnal bird of prey ; Aristot. Hist. an. IX. 12. 



