STRIX 



239 



They are usually found in pairs, and prey chiefly on mice ; the 

 numerous pellets containing the rejected bones of these and other 

 small rodents are often to be found in considerable quantities below 

 their resting places ; they also devour other small mammals, birds, 

 and large insects, and are therefore of great value to the agriculturist. 

 During the daytime they generally remain concealed, coming out 

 in the dark of night to hunt their prey. The cry is not a hoot 

 but a loud, somewhat weird, shriek, while a kind of snoring sound is 

 emitted by both young and old. The Barn Owl makes no nest but 

 lays its eggs in holes, in buildings or hollow trees, or even on the 

 ground. These are laid and hatched at intervals of several days or 

 weeks in Europe, nestlings being found alongside freshly laid eggs. 

 In South Africa, according to Layard, the eggs are from two to 

 four in number, oval, pure white, and not shiny, measuring about 

 1-.7 X 1-25. 



; 





 492. Strix capensis. Grass Owl. 



Strix capensis, Smith, 8. A. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 317 (1834) ; id. Illustr. 



Zool. S. Afr. Aves, pi. 45 (1840) ; Gurney, Ibis, 1859, p. 242 (Natal) ; 



Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 44 (1867) ; Buckley, Ibis, 1874, p. 362 ; 



Sharpe, cd. Layard's B. S. Afr. pp. 81, 802 (1875-84) ; id. Cat. B. M. 



ii, p. 307 (1875) ; Oates, Matl>elcland, p. 300 [Wakkerstroom dis- 



trict] ; Butler, Fcillm. ml Eeid, Zool. 1882, p. 205 [Newcastle]; 



Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 141 (1896) ; Woodward Bros. Natal B. p. 159 



(1899) ; Reichenow, Vog. Afr. i, p. 678 (1901). 

 Scelostrix capensis, Gurney, Ibis, 1868, p. 150 ; Ay res, Ibis, 1871, 



p. 150 [Potchef stroom] . 

 Aluco punctata, Shelley, Ibis, 1875, p. 66 [Umgeni river] . 



Description. Adult female. Above, very dark brown with a few 

 small inconspicuous white spots at the tips of the feathers ; wing- 

 quills brown with lighter crossbands, which become buffy towards 

 the base and white along the inner edge ; the coverts along the 

 radial edge of the wing are also buff ; central tail-feathers like the 

 back, outer ones with increasing amounts of white ; facial disc 

 pure white ; a black spot in front of the eye, facial ruff surrounding 

 the disc brown above, buffy-white with brown tips on the sides and 

 below ; lower surface white, slightly washed with buff on the breast, 

 covered throughout with little rounded spots of dark brown ; tarsal 

 feathering becoming very thin on the lower half of the tarsus, toes 

 quite bare. 



