78 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
in Griqualand in May, 1871, while Dr. Exton fell in with it near 
Kanye, and Mr. T. E. Buckley says it is common from the north of 
Pretoria into the Matabili country. The Lisbon Museum contains a 
specimen from the Transvaal, forwarded by F. Vanzeller, and Mr. 
Ayres in his list of birds from the above locality, writes as follows: 
—This little owl is tolerably common along most of the rivers in 
the Bush, and especially on the banks of the Limpopo.” According 
to Mr. Andersson it is the “ commonest Owl in Damara Land, Great 
Namaqua Land, and Ovampo Land,” and Senor Anchieta has met 
with it at Quillengues in Benguela as well as at Ambaca in Angola 
proper. 
For the following notes on the habits of the present species we are 
indebted to Dr. Exton :—“ The stomach and bill of one showed that it 
had been eating a specimen of Proteba melba, others contained only 
coleoptera. They hunt by day, and I saw one in the middle of the 
forenoon dart ona gryllus, which he still held firmly when I shot him. 
In the midday heat its favourite position seems to be a perch on a 
thick branch in the shade of the stem of the tree, and should it be 
detected by the smaller birds it is treated with the same insult and 
its presence as loudly protested against as is the common Bubo ma- 
culosus when he makes his appearance in the day time.” 
General colour above a warm brown approaching to rufous on the 
head, and with a rufous and white collar round the neck. The upper 
parts are throughout spotted with white, the spots being smallest 
and most numerous on the head. Wings with six rows of white 
spots. Tail greatly exceeding the wings, brown, crossed by seven 
imperfect rows of spots more or less large. Under parts, except the 
rufous collar, white, longitudinally striped with dark brown. Eye- 
brows and sides of chin white. Legs covered to the toes, which are 
hairy, with brown and white hair-like feathers. Iris yellow. 
Length, 7’’ 6'”’ ; wing, 4”; tail, 3'’ 3’’’. 
Fig. Temm. Pl. Col. ii, pl. 34. 
73. ASIO CAPENSIS. African Short-eared Owl. 
Otus capensis, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 43. (1867.) 
This Owl is only found in marshy places, and is usually gregarious. 
It conceals itself during the day amongst long grass, or reeds, &c., and 
preys upon water-insects, mice, and lizards. Dr. Smith gives no loca- 
