ASIO OTUS 67 



meridionalh, Koenig (J. f. 0. 1895, p. 171), but perhaps without 

 sufficient reason, as the difference in colour does not appear to be 

 constant, or more than that found in some European specimens. I 

 have a specimen from the small island of Djerba in South Tunisia, 

 which has its facial disc and frill pure white, its upper plumage merely 

 tinged with yellow and with no trace of grey, while its underparts 

 are of a pure silvery spotless white. Blanc informs me that he has 

 occasionally obtained similarly plumaged birds in the vicinity of Tunis 

 itself, and considers them merely as cases of albinism. The question 

 no doubt requires further study. 



At the meeting of the British Ornithological Club held on June 

 15th, 1904, the Hon. Walter Kothschild exhibited and made some 

 interesting remarks on a series of Barn-Owls, illustrating the great 

 geographical variation in the species. Among the numerous forms 

 or races treated of, that from Sardinia, described under the name of 

 Aluco flammea eniestl (Kleinschmidt), seems most closely to resemble 

 the pale Tunisian birds, but it is doubtful whether any of these light 

 coloured Barn-Owls are more than mere albinistic examples. 



ASIO OTUS (Linnaeus). 

 LONG-EAEED OWL. 



Strix otus, Linn. Si/st. Nat. i, p. 132 (1766). 



Asio otus, Lesson, Man. d'Orn. i, p. 116 (1828) ; Sharpe, Cat. BirJs Brit. 



Miis. ii, p. 227 ; Erlanger, J.f. 0. 1898, p. 489. 

 Strix (Otus) vulgaris, Malherbe, Cat. Rats. d'Ois. Alg. p. 7 (1816). 

 Otus vulgaris, Loc/(e, E:cpl. Sci. Alg. Ois. i, p. 96 (1867) ; Eoemg, J. f. 0. 



1888, p. 141 ; id. J.f. 0. 1892, p. 357. 



Description. — Adult male, from North Tunisia. 



Facial disc tawny-buff, the ruff tipped with blackish-brown ; and on the 

 lower part with white and blackish-brown ; region round the eye blackish- 

 brown ; bristles round the beak whitish, tipped with black ; general colour 

 of plumage, both above and below, tawny-buff, striped with blackish -brown, 

 and pencilled with brown, grey, and white on the crown, back, and wing- 

 coverts ; two conspicuous tufts on the crown tawny at the base, and blackish 

 on the greater portion, with a little white on the inner webs of the feathers ; 

 quills and tail barred with brown ; abdominal feathers tipped with white, 

 and also slightly barred with brown. 



