STRIGID& 37 



47. Athene perlata (Vieill.). African Pearl-spotted Owl. 



La Chevechette Perlee, Levaillant's Ois. d'Afr. pi. 284. 



Strix perlata, Vieillot's Nouv. Diet. vol. vii. p. 26. 



Athene licua, Strickland & Sclater, Birds Damar., Contr. Orn. 1852, 



p. 142. 



Layard's Cat. No. 56. 



Strix senegalensis, Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 393. 

 Athene perlata, Finsch, in Trans, of Zool. Soc. vol. vii. p. 209. 



This is the smallest as well as the commonest Owl in 

 Damara Land, Great Namaqua Land, and Ovampo 

 Land. It is met with singly or in pairs, and though 

 nocturnal in its habits it seems nearly as much at home 

 in the daylight as by night, and can see its way perfectly 

 well even in dazzling sunshine. It possesses quite 

 an intelligent look, and hops about on its perch in the 

 liveliest and briskest manner. It is quite tame, allowing 

 a person to approach within a very few paces ; and when 

 at last compelled to retreat it only moves to the next 

 convenient perch. At night it utters a shrill cry very 

 unlike the usual hooting of Owls. It appears to feed 

 largely on insects. 



The sexes in this species are of about the same size. 

 The iris is bright lemon-yellow, the bill and legs greenish 

 yellow. 



[Specimens of this Owl from Damara Land and also from 

 Trans Vaal appear to be identical with those obtained on the 

 Gambia; and I therefore do not here use the specific name of 

 " licua " applied by Lichtenstein to South- African examples of 

 this species under the idea that they could be specifically distin- 

 guished from those which occur to the north of the equator. 

 ED.] 



