84 RAPTORES. OTUS. 



yellowish-grey. Under parts ochre-yellow, with oblong 

 black spots and streaks. Chin white. Thighs deep 

 ochre-yellow, with a few transverse blackish-brown lines 

 and bars. Legs and toes thickly clothed with downy 

 feathers of the same colour as the thighs. Claws very 

 long and sharp, colour pale yellowish grey. Horns 

 composed of six or eight elongated feathers, varied, and 

 coloured like the rest of the plumage. 

 The female is similar to the male bird, except in wanting 

 the white upon the chin or throat, and is superior in 

 size. 



GENUS OTUS, Cuv. EARED OWL. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill bending from the base, and forming an elliptic curve ; 

 the cere covering the basal ridge for nearly half the length 

 of the bill. Cutting margin of the upper mandible straight, 

 the under one having the tip obliquely truncated and 

 notched. Nostrils, oval, obliquely placed. Facial disk of 

 moderate size, and complete. Conch of the ear extending 

 from the outer angle of the eye to behind the limb of the 

 lower jaw, the opening defended by a flap or operculum. 

 Head furnished with egrets. Wings long ; the second quill- 

 feather the longest. Tail even, and scarcely shewing any 

 concavity beneath. Legs and toes feathered to the insertion 

 of the claws. Toes rather short ; the outer one reversible. 

 Claws moderately curved, long, and very sharp; rounded 

 beneath, except the middle one, which is grooved, and with 

 a sharp inner edge. 



This natural group (of which Otus vulgaris may be con- 

 sidered the type) has also been separated from the other 

 Strigidse by the great French naturalist, whose recent death 

 the scientific world has such reason to deplore. The mem- 

 bers of this genus are distinguished by the completeness of 



