268 NOCTUA. 



of the toes. The length will run from thirteen 

 and a-half inches and fourteen inches. The form 

 of this species is strong and compact, wings ample, 

 hut not long ; feet and tarsi muscular ; the plumage 

 full, and very soft and downy. 



The genus Noctua of Savigny, which composes 

 the next very intricate group, forms Mr Swain- 

 son's third type of the true Strigince, and what 

 that gentleman considers will prove the tenui- 

 rostral form ; he proposes for it the title of 

 ScotopMluS) rejecting Noctua altogether as applied 

 to a group of the lepidoptera. 



We have taken Strix Tengmalmi of Gmel. 

 Noctua Tengmalmi, Selhy," as typical of this, 

 retaining the old title, and have derived our generic 

 characters from it ; the other British hird, gene- 

 rally referred to the same genus, seems to differ 

 in some points, which we shall notice immediately 





