STRIGIDE—OWLS. 139 
Order ACCIPITRES. 
Family STRIGIDZ. 
Genus STRIX. 
BARN-OWL. ae) 
Strix flammea Zznz. 
Adult : Operculum margined with stiff, oblong feathers ; 
above light reddish-yellow, vermiculated with grey and marked 
with oval white and black spots; face and under parts white ; 
breast “nged with buff; flanks slightly spotted with dusky ; bill 
yellowish-white ; claws dark grey; irides bluish-black. Length 
12 to 13°5 inches ; culmen 1 to 1°3; wing 11; tail 4°75 ; tarsus 
2 
Female: Slightly larger than male. 
Young: Closely resemble adults. Very young birds are 
covered with white down. 
Distribution: Resident in most parts of Europe, except- 
ing in Norway, north of Sweden and of Russia and on the 
north-eastern shores of the Mediterranean. 
Habitat: Cultivated localities ; among old ruined buildings, 
and woods where large, decayed trees abound. 
Note.—This species varies considerably in colour, according to climatic in- 
fluences, varying from pale orange-buff above and pure white under 
parts to a ground-colour of almost uniform rufous-buff throughout. 
Family BUBONIDZ. 
Genus ASIO. 
LONG-EARED OWL. \“ 
Asio otus (Lznz). 
Adult: <Adove ochreous-buff, closely vermiculated and 
