TRANSACTIONS 



OP 



THE LINNEAN SOCIETY. 



I. A Contrihiitioii toicards our Knovileclge of the Morphology of the Oids. 

 Part II.— Osteology. Bij W. P. Pycraft, A.L.S., F.Z.S. 



(Plates 1 & 2.) 



Read 19th June, 1902. 



Page 



T. Introductory 1 



II. The Skull of the Adult 2 



III. The Skull of the Nestling 15 



IV. The Vertebral Column, with remarks on 



Contents. 



, Page 



VII. The Pelvic Girdle . .'. .SO 



VIII. The Pectoral Limb 31 



IX. The Pelvic Limb 33 



X. Observations on Generic and Specific 



the Excalation of Vertebrie 21 Characters 35 



V. The Ribs 26 XI. Summary 38 



VI. The Pectoral Girdle and Sternum 27 XII. Key to the Families and Species 39 



I. Introductory. 



The present jiaper is the result of a careful study of the skeletons of the Striges in 

 the Collection of the British Museum (Natural History). Although probahly one of the 

 largest collections extant, unfortunately tliere are many gaps yet to he tilled, and 

 consequently I have been unable to make my work as complete as could be wished. 

 A large number of genera are still wanting, among the most imi^ortant of which are : — 



Scotopelia. 



Scelofflaux. 



Scotiapex. 



Gisella. 



Micropallas. 



Heliodiliis. 



Besides, nestling skeletons of all ages are greatly needed. ]Many gaps in this direction 

 could be filled, I am sure, by members of this Society, who, residing in the country, 

 must have many opportunities of procuring nestlings of the Long- and Short-eared Owls, 

 Tawny and Barn-Owls. Knowing the persecution which besets these most useful and 



SECOND SERIES. — ZOOLOGY, VOL. IX. 1 



