FISHING-GWLS HORNED-OWLS. 321 



thought v> bone is free, and not united to the keel of the sternum. There is 

 also no serration or pectination of the claw on the middle toe, such as is seen 

 in the Barn-Owls. 



In the Bubonidce there are two sub-families the Horned-Owls (Bubonina) 

 and the Wood-Owls (Syrniince') . In the former the facial disk is not so dis- 

 tinct, and fails in intensity above the eye, whereas in the Syrniince, or Wood- 

 Owls this disk is fully developed, and extends as far above the eye as it does 

 below it. In the Horned-Owls, again, the ear-conch, always a striking 

 feature in the sub-order, is smaller than the diameter of the eye itself, and 

 is not shut in by an opercular fold. In the Wood-Owls the ear-conch is very 

 large, exceeding the diameter of the eye, and is shut in by a very distinct 

 opercular fold. 



It is interesting to notice that we find in the Owls a group of fishing 

 species, which remind us of the Ospreys. Like the latter birds, these Owls 

 have spicules on their feet, and they have likewise bare 

 tarsi, which is doubtless a convenience to the birds in The Fishing-Owls, 

 lieu of their plunging their soft downy plumaged legs into Genus Ketupa. 

 the water ; though it must not be forgotten that some of 

 the feathered-legged species, such as the Tawny-Owl (Syrnium aluco), and 

 the Barn- Owl (Strix flammea) , do not hesitate to catch fish on occasion. The 

 members of the genus Ketupa are found in India, China, and the Malayan 

 Peninsula and Islands. They have feathered tufts or horns on their head, 

 and are represented in Africa by the genus Scotopelia, which has three 

 species very similar to those of Ketupa, but without the feathered tufts on the 

 head. Mr. Hume says that the Brown Fish-Owl of India (K. ceylonensis) 

 feeds on birds and small Mammals, and it is also known to eat Crustacea. 

 They build a large nest on the cleft of a rock, or on a broad shelf of a cliff, 

 or in the hole of a tree, while sometimes they repair a nest of Pallas's Sea 

 Eagle (Haliaetus leucoryphus), and appropriate it. 



Pel's Fishing-Owl is a very handsome bird, discovered by Governor Ptl 

 on the Dutch Gold Coast in West Africa. He saw it sitting on a bough 

 overhanging the Rio Boutry which he was traversing in 

 his boat. Afterwards it was re-discovered in the Gambia, Pel's Fishing-Owl 

 and an amusing account of this " fetish " bird is given by (Scotopelia peli). 

 Colonel O'Connor, who had one alive : " During seven 

 years' exploration of Western Africa, I only met with one specimen of 

 the Owl 'Nero.' He was brought a3 a chicken, full of pen-feathers, 

 or rather down, of a delicate straw-colour, and very thick, from a 

 lagoon in the Bawa country. No native would admit ' Nero * as a 

 visitor ; and when the bird was installed in Government House, the 

 servants and the head people came in a body to remonstrate, asserting 

 'he was a " Gumbi Owl," a " Fettish " ! ! ! and would destroy and kill 

 whatever object he looked on.' The chief groom (an old soldier, who had 

 charge of the poultry) insisted that every cock and hen would go dead. 

 Strangely enough, an epidemic broke out, and carried off fifty to sixty head 

 of fowls ; and each day the groom placed the defunct birds on the steps of 

 Government House to meet the eye of Mrs. O'Connor, seeming to exult in 

 the mortality amongst the feathered tribe. 'You see wid your own eye, 

 Missus, dat debil jumbi bird, he go kill all de fowls : Governor tink he hab 

 long head, but he no takey owl : suppose you put him in de stable, he see 

 Nelly' (Mrs. O'Connor's favourite mare), 'de horse he go tumble down dead.' 

 Death at last ceased to reign amongst the poultry population, and Nero 

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