ALUCO. 147 



A 2 . Underparts with the broad longitudinal streaks generally far 

 more conspicuous than the narrow transverse bars, which 

 are sometimes obsolete ; ear-tufts very conspicuous. 



a 3 . Wing over 12 inches Brso. 



b 3 . Wing never exceeding 9 inches SCOPS. 



Genus ALUCO. 



The Barn-Owl has been knocked about by modern ornithologists from 

 genus to genus until it can scarcely fiud rest for the sole of its foot. 

 Sharpe (Ibis, 1875, p. 324) evolves an elaborate argument to prove that it 

 is the type of the Linnean genus Strix; whilst Newton (Ibis, 1876, p. 94) 

 gives excellent reasons (if his premisses are true) why it should be placed in 

 the genus Aluco. I am unable to accept Newton's premisses, as I cannot, 

 for the reasons stated in the remarks on the genus Strix, admit that 

 Brisson made a genus of Owls additional to that of Linnaeus ; but I accept 

 his conclusions on the ground that in 1767 Geriui, in his ' Ornithologia 

 Methodice Digesta/ i. p. 88, founded the genus Aluco for the Barn and 

 Snowy Owls ; the latter of which was removed in 18.26 by Stephens to a 

 genus of its own, leaving the Barn-Owl the type of Aluco. 



The Barn-Owls belong the group of Owls having large ear-openings 

 protected by an operculum, but are isolated from all the other genera of 

 Owls by the absence of clefts to the hinder margin of the sternum. 



They form a somewhat aberrant division of .the Strigidse, and may be at 

 once distinguished from all other birds of this family by the serrated or 

 toothed margin to the middle claw. Their facial disk is also more elon- 

 gated. The bright orange-buff of various shades of their upper, and the 

 silky whiteness of their under plumage is also another characteristic 

 peculiar to them. The wings are very long and ample, but the tail is 

 somewhat short. 



The Barn-Owls are an essentially tropical genus, being found in the 

 tropics of both hemispheres, and only in Western Europe extending much 

 more than forty degrees from the equator. They are all very nearly allied, 

 but are usually divided into five or six species, some of which are again 

 subdivisible into several subspecies, varieties, or local races. The British 

 species is the only one found in Europe. 



Like most other Owls, the Barn-Owls are principally nocturnal in their 

 habits, seeking their prey on the wing. Their plumage is extremely soft, 

 and their flight almost noiseless, enabling them to drop unawares on little 

 birds and smatf mammals, the latter forming their principal food. They 

 also feed on insects and occasionally fish. They are only migratory in the 

 northern limits of their range. They breed in holes, and lay pure white eggs. 



L2 



