PSEUDOPTYNX. 249 



Order STRIGMFORMES. 



OWLS. 



Head large and round; bill strongly hooked and with a cere which is 

 more or less hidden by stiffish bristles; eyes large, directed forward, each 

 surrounded by a more or less perfect ruff of modified, close-textured 

 feathers; in most species a bunch of elongate erectile feathers above each 

 eye forming the so-called horns or ear- tufts; feet strong, claws curved 

 and sharp ; outer toe reversible ; plumage soft and fluffy ; colors generally 

 various shades of brown, gray, and rufous and in most species vermic- 

 ulated and streaked, the plumage resembling that of the Caprimulgidce; 

 habits nocturnal, or crepuscular, and insectivorous; eggs white, nearly 

 globular, usually deposited in a hole in a hollow branch or trunk of a tree, 

 or in a deserted hawk's nest. 



Families. 



a 1 . Claw of middle toe not pectinate; middle toe longer than inner toe. 



Strigidac (p. 249) 



a a . Claw of middle toe pectinate on inner margin; inner and middle toes about 

 equal in length Aluconidse (p. 271) 



Family STRIGIDJE. 



Characters same as those given in the key to Families. 



Subfamilies. 



a 1 . Ear-conch not larger than eye and without an operculum; portion of facial 



disk below the eye greater than the area above the eye.... Buboninae (p. 249) 



a a . Ear-conch much larger than eye and with a large operculum ; facial disk distinct 



and extending as far above as below the eye....: Strigina (p. 270) 



Subfamily BU BON I ISMS. 



Genera. 

 a 1 . Toes without bristles. 



6 1 . Larger; wing, 230 mm. or more, but relatively shorter, falling short of the 



end of tail Pseudoptynx (p. 249) 



6 2 . Smaller; wing, 220 mm. or less, but relatively longer, when folded reaching 



nearly or quite to tip of tail '. Otus (p. 252) 



a 2 . Toes scantily clothed with rather stiff bristles Ninox (p. 260) 



Genus PSEUDOPTYNX Kaup, 1848. 



Large ; ear- tufts moderate ; primaries but little longer than secondaries ; 

 plumage full and streaked ; legs closely feathered to the toes ; toes naked. 



Species, * 



a\ Larger; wing, 330 to 380 mm. 



6 1 . Smaller and lighter; wing, about 350 mm philippensis (p. 250) 



6 2 . Larger and darker; wing, about 375 mm mindanensis (p. 251) 



a 2 . Smaller and darker; wing, about 235 gurneyi (p. 250) 



