246 BUBONID.E SYKNIUM 



(1875); Barratt, Ibis, 1876, p. 197 [Potchefstroom] ; Seebohm, Ibis, 

 1887, p. 351 ; Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 142 (1896) ; Sowerby, Ibis, 1898, 

 p. 575 [Fort Chiquaqua] ; Woodward Bros. Natal B. p. 158 (1899) ; 

 Alexander, Ibis, 1900, p. 432 [Zumbo] ; Beichenoiv, Vog. Afr. i, p. 

 668 (1901). 

 " Ibengwana" of the Zulus (Woodward). 



Description. Adult male. General colour above, dark brown* 

 almost black, with small triangular white spots, which on the lower 

 back and upper tail-coverts show a tendency to widen out into bars ; 

 outer webs of the outer scapulars and greater wing-coverts barred 

 white and brown ; quills dark brown barred and tipped with paler 



FIG. 83. Syrnium wood/ordi. x ^ . 



brown, tail also dark brown with five transverse bars and a tip of 

 paler ; facial disc grey with a black ring round the eye ; below, 

 white barred with brown, the white predominating on the abdomen 

 and tail-coverts, the brown on the breast ; tarsi dirty white speckled 

 with black, the toes as a rule bare of feathers and bristles. 



Iris brown, bill yellow, toes dirty yellow. 



Length 14-5 ; wing 9-5 ; tail 5-40 ; culmen 0-75 ; tarsus 1-80. 



The sexes are alike in dimensions and plumage. 



Distribution. Woodford's Owl is rather a rare bird and is only 

 found in or about forest and thick bush. It is not uncommon at 

 Knysna, where it has been obtained by Victorin, Marais, and several 



