208 DR. J. J. KAUP'S MONOGRAPH OF THE STRIGID^. 



it may be at the same time very tame (Brehm). Tliis Owl makes grimaces which 

 usually much entertain the spectator, and possesses the remarkable faculty of dilating 

 the feather-wreaths to such an extent, that over each eye is formed an elevated pro- 

 tuberance, which gives the appearance of two little feather-horns. Its flying is like the 

 Otus vulgaris, but the strokes of the wing follow more quickly (Naumann). It lays four 

 round white eggs, which Brehm describes as with smooth surface and few pores. 

 One of these was 1 inch 5 lines long, and 1 inch 2^ lines broad. 



3. Nyctale Richardsoni, J5p.' 



It has nearly the same dimensions (wings 164, tail 96) as N. funerea (wings 163, 

 tail 100-103). The only difference is a darker colour on the upper parts, and this is 

 the reason that the white spots are more distinct. The character " longer tail" is not 

 correct. 



This is certainly not a true species. 



Hab. Northern parts of America. 



Genus III. Athene, Boie. 



a. Cephaloptynx. h. Athene, c. Pholeoptynx. d. ? e. Tcenioglaux. 



Diajm.— r-The nostrils are situated on the margin of the swollen short cera (Plate 

 LVI. fig. 3). Ear-orifice small. Wings moderately long, reaching nearly to the end 

 of the short tail. Toes naked, with a few bristle feathers. The emarginations on the 

 lower jaw not so distinct. These birds are very nearly connected with the first genus 

 {Glaucidium) , and the fifth genus {leraglaux), and are spread over the whole world. 



Subgenus a. Cephaloptynx. 



Diagn. —The first wing-feather shorter than the tenth. First, second, and third very 

 clearly emarginated, fourth not so distinctly. The plumage not banded, but much 

 spotted. 



1. Athene functulata, G. R. Gray. 



Noetua punctulata, Quoy & Gaim. Voy. Astrol. Ois. t. i. fig. 1. 



Descr. — A little larger than Athene noetua, with larger head and stronger bill. Front, 

 a stripe over the eye, the whole chin, belly, tarsi, and under wing-coverts pure white. 

 The lorum-feathers mixed with blackish bristles, and with black shafts, reach to the end 

 of the yellowish bill. Ear-coverts brownish-rufous, spotted at the end of each feather. 

 Head, the whole back, the little feathers of the wings dark-brownish, with rufous-yellow 



' A fourth species of true Nyctale is N. albifrons, Cass., Strix albifrons, Shaw. See Cassin's ' Birds of Cali- 

 fornia,' p. 187, in which book it is also figured as N. Kirtlandi, pi. II. Hab. N. America, Wisconsin, and 

 Canada (P. L.S.). 



