Pterylography o/Photodilus. 37 



area. The lateral borders of this tract are semicircular in 

 outline, the tract itself suddenly narrowing at the base of the 

 neck to pass into the pteryla colli dorsalis. The feathers in 

 this area radiate outwards from the middle line on either side. 



Loral area (PI. II. fig. 1). — This is represented by a 

 densely packed crescentic patch of feathers in front of the 

 eye, and is continued forwards on the beak to terminate 

 as a cone-shaped area just below the external narial aper- 

 ture. This cone-shaped area thus comes to be divided in 

 the middle line from its fellow of the opposite side by the 

 cere, whilst its inferior border runs along the basal portion 

 of the beak, but some distance above the tomium. It then 

 passes backwards behind the gape as a narrow band of 

 feathers to join the circum-aural area. 



Ocular area. — This area, as in other Owls, is of great size, 

 owing to the lateral projection of the eyes. The lower lid is 

 clothed by numerous rows of concentrically arranged feathers, 

 which pass upwards at the posterior canthus to form a broad 

 band running to the circum-aural area, but first sending 

 forwards a branch to clothe the upper lid. The feathers 

 there differ from those of tlie lower lid in their greater 

 length. By reason of the feeble development of the vanes 

 they resemble filoplumes ; the outermost row performs the 

 function of eyelashes along both eyelids. 



Circum-aural area (PI. II. fig. 1). — This is delimited by 

 a number of closely set stiff feathers forming the peri- 

 phery of the disc, and corresponding to the feathers of the 

 post-aural folds described by me in Asio accipitrinus (3). 

 It may be traced from the ramal area backwards, upwards, 

 and forwards, till it ultimately fuses with the loral area. 

 Immediately behind the eye it is joined by a broad band 

 from the ocular area. Distinct pre- and post-aural skin- 

 folds are wanting. 



Ramal area. — This is partly occupied by the post-aural 

 section of the circum-aural area. 



Inter-rumal area. — This is filled by a truncated-conical 

 patch of feathers lying between the symphysis of the man- 

 dible and the convergent limbs of the circum-aural disc- 



