— 47 — 



218. Short-eared Owl. Asio accipitrinus (Pallas). 



Asio accipitrinus. Shelley, p. 179. 



Common during the spring migration, but less so in autumn. 



Length 14 inches. Entire plumage yellowish buff mottled 

 above and streaked below with black and grey ; under side of 

 wings white ; a short tuft of feathers — erectile — on each side of 

 head above the eyes. 



219. Long-eared Owl. Asio otus (Linnaeus). 



Asio otus. Shelley, pp. 178-179. 



Of uncommon occurrence during the autumn migrations. 



Somewhat similar to the aforementioned, but darker in 

 coloration and more heavily marked with black and grey. 

 The "ear" tufts are longer, and during the day it roosts in trees 

 and not on the ground, as does the short-eared owl. 



The tawny owl, Syrniufn aluco, has been recorded from Egypt, 

 and I believe that I have seen and heard it at Giza, but as I 

 have no specimen I only include it here in a footnote. 



220. Tengmalm's Owl. Nyctala tengmalmi (J. F. Gmelin). 



Nyctala tengmalmi. Shelley, p. 177. 



Shelley records one specimen from Egypt, now in the 

 British Museum, from Mr. Turnbull's collection. 



Length 9 inches. Somewhat similar to the little owl, but 

 greyer. Facial dish white. The legs and toes are thickly 

 covered with whitish brown speckled feathers. 



221. Scop's Owl. Otus scops scops (Linnaeus.) 



Scops giu. Shelley, p. 178. 



Fairly abundant during the spring migration. 



Length 7| inches. Tivo distinct ear-UM tufts on head, 

 grey blotched and vermiculated with black. Some examples 

 have distinct reddish brown patches on upper parts. Legs 

 feathered, but feet bare. 



222. Southern Little Owl. Athene noctua glaux (Scopoli). 



Carine meridionalis. Shelley, p. 177, 



Abundant and resident. 



Length 9 inches. Upper parts greyish brown with large 

 dull cream coloured spots ; imder parts dull white blotched 

 and streaked with brown ; toes covered with hairlike bristles. 



