92 AVES RAPTORES. [Oxus. 



dusky : irides rich orange-yellow. (Female.) Throat and face white : 

 rest of the plumage like that of the male, but much mottled in places 

 with grayish white. (Egg.) Oval ; smooth : white : long. diam. one inch 

 eight lines and a half; trans, diam. one inch three lines and a half. 



Found in wooded districts not very uncommonly. Partial to fir-planta- 

 tions and old ivy, where it breeds early in the Spring, laying from four to 

 five eggs : these are hatched towards the end of April. Remains with 

 us the whole year. 



23. O. Brachyotos, Fletn. (Short-eared Owl.) Upper 

 plumage dusky brown, edged with ochre-yellow : egrets 

 small and inconspicuous, composed of three or four fea- 

 thers. 



Strix Brachyotos, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. i. p. 99. Short-eared 

 Owl, Mont. Orn. Diet, and Supp. Selb. Illust. vol. i. p. 88. 

 pi. 21. Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. i. pp.58 and 60. 



DIMENS. Entire length fifteen inches : length of the bill (along the 

 ridge) one inch three lines ; of the tarsus one inch ; of the tail six inches ; 

 of the egrets six lines ; from the carpus to the end of the wing eleven 

 inches eight lines : breadth, wings extended, three feet one inch. 



DESCRIPT. Head small: facial circle dirty white, with dark streaks 

 radiating outwards ; immediate contour of the eyes black : egrets black, 

 with tawny edges : head, neck, back, and wing-coverts, variegated with 

 dusky brown and tawny yellow, the feathers being mostly edged with this 

 last colour, with a dark spot in the centre of each : breast and belly pale 

 orange-yellow, with brownish black streaks on the shafts of the feathers ; 

 these streaks most abundant on the breast : vent and under tail-coverts 

 yellowish white : quills with alternate bars of dark brown and ochre- 

 yellow: tail barred like the quills; the two outermost feathers much 

 paler than the others; the four central ones with dusky spots in the 

 middle of the yellow bars : feet and toes thickly coated with downy 

 ochreous feathers : bill dusky : irides rich golden yellow : claws black. 

 (Egg.) Smooth : white, with "ti slight blush of red : long. diam. one inch 

 eight lines; trans, diam. one inch three lines and a half. 



A migratory species, visiting England in October, and departing in 

 April. Has been known, however, to breed in Norfolk, as well as in some 

 parts of Scotland. Habits somewhat diurnal. Met with chiefly on moors 

 and in open fields, often in flocks consisting of several individuals. Re- 

 sorts to plantations in the evening to roost. Food principally the field- 

 campagnol. Nest placed on the ground. 



GEN. 9. STRIX, Linn. 



24. S. flammea, Linn. (White Owl.) Upper plumage 

 tawny yellow, variegated with gray and brown : underneath 

 white. 



S. flammea, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. i. p. 91. White Owl, Mont. 

 Orn. Diet. Selb. Illust. vol. i. p. 99. pi. 24. Bew. Brit. Birds, 

 vol. i. p. 61. 



DIMENS. Entire length fourteen inches six lines : length of the bill 

 (from the forehead) one inch four lines, (from the gape) one inch seven 



