404 CORACIIFORMES CHAP. 
feathers. As mentioned above (p. 400), the bird is almost cosmo- 
poltan, if we disregard the sub-species proposed. It is rare in 
northern Scotland. It lays its four to six dull white eggs, with- 
out any nest, in hollow trees, 
crevices in masonry or rocks, 
towers, belfries, lofts, and so 
forth, and has been known to 
breed in holes in banks or 
cliffs in America, between fork- 
ing branches in the Philip- 
pines, and on the ground in 
Madagascar. The eggs are not 
uncommonly deposited at con- 
siderable intervals. The food 
consists chiefly of small rodents, 
though birds, bats, insects, and 
even small fish are eaten; the 
note 1s a weird screech, while 
young and old make a snoring 
noise at the nesting place. 
When this bird frequents dove- 
cotes 1t destroys the rats which 
prey upon the eggs and young 
of pigeons, and is itself practi- 
cally harmless. According to 
Dr. Sharpe * the following may 
also be admitted as valid 
species: S. novae hollandiae 
of Australia, S. tenebricosa of 
that country and New Guinea, S. capensis of South Africa, and 
S. candida, the Grass Owl, ranging from India to China, Formosa, 
North Australia, and Fiji. S. castanops of Tasmania may perhaps 
be added, and S. aurantiaca of New Britain is certainly distinct, 
but may not belong to this genus. 
Feliodilus soumagnii of Madagascar is cinnamon-rufous above, 
with a few black spots on the head, and bars on the wing and tail; 
it is hghter below and pinker on the face. The toes are bare. 
Sub-fam. 2. Buboninae.-—Photodilus badius, found from the 
Eastern Himalayas to Ceylon, the Burmese Countries, Borneo, 
9 
Fie. 85.—Screech-Owl. Strix flammea. x2. 
1 Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. ii. 1875, pp. 290-309. 
