STRIGID^. 43 



second and third quills the longest. Tail moderate, even. 

 Tarsi long, and covered with plumes, Toes moderate, more 

 or less plumed, the lateral ones unequal, the outer one 

 shortest ; the claws long, curved, and acute. 



64. OtUS CapensiS. Fhasmoptynx Capensis, Smith, 

 111. Zool. S. Af., PI. 67, and S. A. Q. J, 1855, p. 306. 



Upper parts of head, neck, back, upper tail-coverts, breast, 

 and lesser wing-coverts reddish- brown, varied with a more 

 yellow shade. Body and legs pale yellow-ochra, barred with 

 brown. Wings chiefly brown, barred with yellow ; most of 

 the feathers with a much paler margin. Tail barred brown 

 and yellowish-white. Facial disk pale, duU-j^ellow, marked 

 with brown ; deep-brown round the eyes. Collar deep-brown. 



Eare in South Africa, and only found in marshy places. Usually 

 gregarious. It conceals itself during the day amongst long grass, or 

 reeds, &c. They prey upon water-insects, mice, and lizards. Dr. 

 Smith gives no locality for this bird, which must be very scarce, as no 

 specimen has ever fallen under my observation from any part of tlie 

 colony. Mr. Gurney includes it in his list of birds procured at Natal 

 by Mr. Ayres, Ibis Vol., 1862, p.. 26. 



The Sub-Family, STRIGIN^, or Owls. 



have the head smooth, with the facial disk very large, sub- 

 triangular, and complete. 



Genus STRIX, Linn. 

 Bill long, mostly concealed at the base by the projecting 

 plumes; the sides much compressed, and the culmen arched 

 to the tip, which is acute and hooked ; the nostrils large, 

 partly covered by a membrane, with the opening oval and 

 slightly hidden by the hairs. Wings very long, with the 

 second quill the longest. Tail short and generally even. 

 Tarsi much longer than the middle toe, slender, and covered 

 with short soft plumes. Toes long, and covered with scat- 

 tered hairs ; the lateral ones unequal, the outer much shorter 

 than the inner ; the hind toe short and thick ; the claws 

 long, curved, and acute. 



65. Strix AliinJS. (Blyth.) Strix Flammea, Linn, 

 var. ; the common White Owl of S. Africa. 



TIPPER parts rather deep reddish orange, profusely mottled 

 with dark grey, and spotted with white. Tail with four bars 

 of deep-brown, variegated with grey. Under parts ochreous- 



