146 A HANDBOOK OF EUROPEAN BIRDS. 
marked ; chest and flanks streaked boldly with brown ; bill pale 
yellow; zoes covered with brisfdgs, but not feathered ; claws black ; 
irides yellow. Length about'd°5 inches ; culmen o°6 ; wing 6 to 
6755 tail'3*25 tarsus! 1°2'5. 
Young: Are more rufous than adults. 
Distribution : Resident in Europe south of Scandinavia. 
Of casual occurrence only in the British Isles. 
Habitat: Woods, ruins, gardens, &c. Nocturnal. 
Note.—This owl, like many others, is subject to considerable variation in 
size, as well as in general tint. -In Northern Africa, a paler and more 
rufous form occurs, which has been described by many authors as a 
distinct species, under the name of Adhene glaux. Specimens identical 
with this form appear to occur in Southern Europe, as well as inter- 
mediate forms, 
nA Family VULTURIDZ: 
Genus GYPS. 
GRIFFON VULTURE. 
Gyps fulvus (Gwe). 
Adult: Head and neck covered with white hairy down ; neck- 
ruff white; back, rump and scapulars pale buffish-brown; zzzgs 
and tatl dark brown ; some of wing-coverts have dark centres; 
beneath reddish-brown, tinged with yellow; bill at tip pale 
slate-colour ; cere nearly black; legs and feet leaden-grey ; 
claws black ; irides reddish-orange. Length 42 to 48 inches ; 
culmen’ 3; wing 27 t0 30> tail 149 fo 15 ; tarsus 4. 
Immature Birds: ‘ Have the head and neck dirty white, 
varied with brown, and the rest of the plumage much lighter 
than in the adult, with white and grey markings ” (Shelley). 
Distribution: Resident in Southern Europe, Northern 
Africa and in parts of Central Asia; of casual occurrence in 
Northern Europe. 
Habitat: Mountainous regions, especially frequenting 
precipitous cliffs. 
