STRIGID^E — THE OWLS. 



97 



I^ TE. 



The crania of the Owls present many features of interest, which may serve a good 

 purpose in the definition of the sections and the genera, and to which attention has been 

 occasionally called in the preceding pages. The tendency to asymmetry is especially 

 marked in some species, and the better to illustrate tliis and other features we append 

 several plates, in which the corresponding views are placed side by side.* The figures 

 and accompanying lettering tell their own story, without any necessity of a labored 

 description. 



R. R. 



Athene noctua (from Kaup). 



Syrnium aluco (copied from KAUP). 



Nyctale richardsoni. 



* We give, above, three well-inarked illustrations of asymmetry : two relating to the auditory 

 apparatus of the two sides of the head, and one of opposite sides of the skidl. 

 VOL. HI. 13 



