AFRICAN SCOPS OWL. 129 



cisely similar, in fact, to the whitish, scapular line 

 so common among the owls ; hut in the European 

 species, the axillae, like the lesser wing-covers, are 

 deep and uniform rufous-brown. 



Finally, there is a difference in point of structure 

 which must not he passed over. The wings are 

 shorter than in the European, which has the second 

 quill equal to the fourth; hut in this, the second 

 quill is not even so long as the fifth. Hence ensues 

 a great difference in all the remainder, for in this 

 the third and fourth are equal and longest, whereas 

 in the S. Europoeus the third exceeds all the 

 others. The annexed cut will explain these dif- 

 ferences at a glance, and will show how much more 

 vigorous must he the flight of the European scops 

 than that of the Senegal species. 



The colouring and markings of the species of 

 this group are remarkahly alike ; there are two from 

 Java and one from Brazil, which in this respect 

 are as similar to S. Europoeus as is the present 

 bird. 



