DR. J. J. KAUP'S MONOGRAPH OF THE STRIGID^E. 209 



spots, from one to three pairs on each feather. A brownish band under the white chin ; 

 on the point of the breast a white spot ; next this white spot a dark spot on each side 

 of the rufous-banded breast. The sides and the lower parts of the breast more rufous, 

 with rusty-yellow bands. The backs of the wing-feathers on the inner side yellowish- 

 white ; the upper parts with bands not reaching to the shafts ; the parts below the 

 emarginations nearly unicolor, because the bands are very indistinct ; three to four 

 spots on the margin of the external webs ; five narrow bands not reaching to the shafts 

 of the tail-feathers. 



Dimens. — Head 57, from the gape 26, wing 158, tail 76, tarsus 35-36, middle toe 

 with nail 30, without nail 22 mm. long. 



Hab. Celebes. 



Subgenus b. Athene. 

 Diagn. — The first wing-feather as long as the sixth or seventh ; first to the fifth 

 sUghtly emarginated. The first wing-feather dentellated on the external web ; the 

 second to the fifth with external emarginations. Tarsus not very high. Plumage 

 spotted. Ear-orifices asymmetric (PI. LVI. tig. 4). 



2. Athene meridionalis. 



Noctua meridiunalis, Risso, Hist. Nat. de I'Eur. Mer. iii. p. 32. 



glaux, Sav. 



passerina, Riipp. 



Surnia noctua, v. d. Muhle. 



Diagn. — Toes with bristly feathers. The lower parts with rufous shaft-stripes. Tail 

 with three yellowish dark-margined cross bands. 



Descr. — The head-feathers with smaller and more distinct white shaft-spots. Shoulder- 

 coverts with large white spots. 



Dimens. — Head 51, wings 152, tail 75 mm. long. 



This Owl is a native of the southern parts of Europe and northern parts of Africa. 

 In Egypt it lives in date-trees, and is very common {RiippeU). According to Graf von 

 der Miihle, this Owl is the true ' bird of Minerva ' of the old Greeks, and at the present 

 time is very common throughout Greece, where the inhabitants protect it, although it 

 shows little pity towards other birds. It makes its nest in the month of March in 

 fissures of rocks and old walls, and is very often to be seen during daylight on pro- 

 jecting rocks. These birds see very well in the daytime, and fly away on the 

 approach of the hunter. The little birds which live in their neighbourhood, as Saxicola 

 aurita, S. stapazina, Monticola cyanea, Emberiza casta, &c., have no fear of them, as 

 they never attempt to attack them. They feed their young during daylight, and v. d. 

 Miihle frequently shot the females in the act of doing so. They had only insects in 

 their stomachs. In its manner of living this Owl is very similar to a diurnal hawk, 

 and its voice may be heard the whole day ; but no mention is made of hearing it in the 



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