STRIGID^J. 37 



In plumage this is a very handsome bird, though 

 somewhat difficult to describe minutely, on account 

 of its extremely varied and mottled appearance. 

 The exposed part of the beak is black; irides 

 orange-yellow ; immediately round the base of the 

 beak, and hiding it, are white feathers, mixed with 

 a few long hair-like black feathers; face brownish 

 orange ; tips of the feathers freckled with brown and 

 grey ; feathers edging the facial disk brownish orange 

 and dark brown ; long feathers making the ear-tufts 

 dark brown in the centre, edged with brownish 

 orange and light buff, almost white on the upper 

 parts and inside; forehead yellowish brown, and 

 brown and white freckled ; head and nape streaked 

 with brownish orange and brown ; all the upper 

 parts minutely spotted and speckled with the same 

 three colours; breast brownish orange, streaked 

 with dark brown and spotted with white ; legs and 

 toes rather lighter brownish orange, extreme ends of 

 the toes bare ; quills light yellowish brown, barred 

 with dark brown ; tail the same ; claws rather long, 

 curved, sharp and black. 



The eggs are white, and much resembling, both in 

 size and shape, those of the Shorteared and of the 

 Barn Owl. 



SHOKTEAKED OWL, Otus brachyotos. The Short- 

 eared Owl, during the time of its stay, is certainly 

 more numerous than the last-mentioned species. 

 This, though a few may probably remain to breed in 



E 



