OWLS. 



347 



To these must be added the wide differences in size, but these lose mucli of their 

 significance in view of tlie very great variation in this respect among the different 

 races oi flammeus. A small specimen of tlie European barn-owl {ty\YL<^\x\ flammeus) is 

 jierhaps not more than thirteen inclies long, with a wing measuring eleven inches and 

 tail live. Its general color may be very nearly white, especially below ; the tail ]H'r- 

 fectly white, or with only the faintest suggestion of orange, without dark bars. The 

 back and upper surface of wings is ]iale orange or Imff, delicately mottled willi silver 



Fio. 157. — Alucoflamim 



pray, and with many distinct white spots, each accomitanicd by a black one. Com- 

 pare sucli a bird with a large female of the barn-owl of Van Dieman's Land, A. cas- 

 ttniops. The latter is twenty or twenty-one inches long; the wing measures from 

 fourteen to fifteen inches, and the tail about eight. The lower parts are " dee]) golden 

 buff," with spots and bare of blackish ; the upper parts, incluiling the wings, choco- 

 late brown; the tail even darker, but crossed with five or six bars of "golden buff," 

 while the face, instead of being pure white as in Jlammeus, is light chestnut, with a 

 black patch in front of the eye. 



