82 Proceediriffs. 



their feet. Parrots are grain eaters, witli the exception of 

 the Keah of New Zealand, which has acquired a taste for 

 mutton fat. 



The Barn Owl may almost be described as cosmopolitan, 

 though it is essentially a tropical bird, occurring within 40° 

 north and south latitude, and only crossing that boundary in 

 western Europe, where it is found in England and Norway. 

 It has not yet been found in China, Japan, or Persia. 



Various sub-species of Barn Owl have been described. A 

 form with a white tail is peculiar to England and Jamaica. 

 The Danish form with a dark tail is found occasionally in 

 England. The Mediterranean type has been described under 

 the name Strix meridionalis ; and the Indian form as Strix 

 javanica. In the West Indies and Cape de Verde Islands a 

 race occurs with a very dark rich-brown breast. 



The Barn Owl of St. Domingo has a silvery-grey face ; that 

 of Jamaica is a large, richly-coloured bird. In the Southern 

 States of America the Barn Owl has a closely spotted breast. 

 In Australia and Fiji a very pale Owl, Strix deliicatida, is 

 found. The largest of the Barn Owls is Strix Rosenbergi from 

 Celebes. It has very powerful feet. 



The Javanese Barn Owl usually nests in holes of trees or 

 wells ; the Buenos Ayres bird in banks ; and that from Cali- 

 fornia in cliffs. 



Owls as a rule are most voracious feeders. A Javanese 

 Owl kept in confinement most rigidly refused to touch the 

 flesh of raptorial birds. 



The Tawny or Wood Owl (Syrnimn aluco), occurs in the 

 British Isles in two distinct types ; a rufous and a grey form. 

 The rufous type is more abundant in the South of England. 

 Both types are found together in the North of Scotland. The 

 grey type is generally found in dry districts ; the rufous in 

 warm, damp districts. In Palestine the Wood Owls are all 

 of the grey type. A specimen from the neighbourhood of 

 Constantinople exhibits strong tendencies to melanism. 



In Argyle the Wood Owl has twice been found nesting in 

 rabbit burrows. It often uses an old squirrel's dray, and has 

 been known to breed in a deserted dog-kennel. It is a very 



