STRIGID.E 



STBIX 



235 



Key of the Genera. 



A. Claw of the middle toe pectinated on its 



inner side ; no ear tufts ; facial disc very 

 distinct 



B. Claw of the middle toe not pectinated. 



(i. Tarsus bare, no ear tufts 



b. Tarsus feathered at least for three-fourths 



of its length. 



{ . Ear opening larger than the eye, pro- 

 vided with an operculum ; facial disc 

 well marked, extending as far below 

 as above the eye. 



't 3 . Ear tufts present ; iris always yellow. 

 b' 2 . Ear tufts absent ; iris always brown. 

 b\ Ear opening smaller than the eye, with- 

 out operculum ; facial disc not well 

 denned and hardly extending below 

 the level of the eye. 



-. Cere normal not swollen ; nostrils at 

 its anterior margin; ear tufts 

 present. 



d : \ Of large size, whig over 12*0 ; wings 

 short, falling short of the tail by 

 at least the length of the tarsus. 

 & :J . Of small size, wing under 8'0 ; 

 wings long, almost or quite reach- 

 ing the tail tip 



b-. Cere swollen and pea-shaped, nostrils 

 within its limits; no ear tufts 



Strix, p. 235. 

 Scotopelia, p. 260. 



Asio, p. 241. 

 Syrnium, p. 245. 



Bubo, p. 247. 



Scops, p. 254. 

 Glaucidium,p. 256. 



Family I. 



Skull long and narrow relatively ; sternum with one slight notch 

 posteriorly ; the furcula anchylosed to the keel of the sternum ; 

 second joint of the third toe considerably longer than the basal 

 joint ; claw of the middle toe pectinated on its inner margin. 



There are only two genera in this family : Strix, which is 

 practically cosmopolitan, and Heliodilus, peculiar to Madagascar. 



Genus I. STRIX. 



Type. 



Strix, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 133 (1766) S. flammea. 



Bill somewhat small, compressed and weak ; facial disc very 

 complete, the stiff decomposed feathers radiating out in every 



