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223. Egyptian Eagle Owl. Buho ascaUflms ascalaphus 



Savigny. 



Buho ascalaphus. Shelley, p. 180. 



Not uncommon in suitable desert localities, where it is 



resident. 



Length about 20 inches. Females larger than males 

 Two distinct ear-like tufts on head ; legs and toes covered with 

 golden brown feathers; upper parts dull golden buff heavily 

 marked with black and less heavily with dull white blotches. 

 Facial disk dull yellowish brown ; under parts whitish buff, 

 heavily streaked on breast with black ; abdomen narrowly 

 barred with reddish brown. Iris bright golden orange. 



224. Desert Eagle Owl. Bubo ascalaphus desertorum Erlanger, 



1897. 



The status and range of this race is not yet fully worked 

 out. In Egypt it meets and possibly interbreeds with the former 

 race, from which it only differs in being paler in coloration; 

 more marked with white on the upper parts and less heavily 

 marked with black both above and below. 



According to Von Heuglin, " Orn. N. 0. Afr.," p. 110, Bubo 

 ignavus, the eagle owl has been obtained near Cairo. Supposing 

 this record to be correct, it seems most probable that the speci- 

 men in question belonged to one of the southern or south-eastern 

 forms and not to the true Bubo ignavus. 



ACCIPITRES. 



225. Rueppell's Vulture. Gyps rueppelli (Brehm). 

 Not mentioned by Shelley. 



Of apparently uncommon occurrence near Cairo. Two 

 specimens obtained from Giza Province are living in the Giza 

 Zoological Gardens. 



Length about 42 inches. Head and neck covered with short 

 whitey grey down, rest of plumage slate grey spotted with large 

 white markings, especially so on the wings and shoulders. 

 Sexes similar. 



