DR. J. J. KAUP'S MONOGRAPH OF THE STRIGID^. 213 



similarly coloured, with three bands on each feather, and the margins white margined 

 with black. The small feathers of the wings banded with rufous; the outermost having 

 the external web white, terminated with black. Arm- and hand-wings dark brown, with 

 small rufous cross bands, which are white-spotted on the margin of the hand-wings. 

 The inner wings rufous-yellowish, with eight to ten irregular blackish bands. Breast 

 rufous and white, with black bands. Belly and sides pure white, with large, round, 

 black end-spots. 



Obs. A very handsomely coloured species. 



Dimens. — Wing 143, tail 86 mm. long. 



Hab. S. Africa. 



Genus IV. Surnia, Dum. 



Diagn. — Nostrils situated on the margin of the rudimentary cera. Ear-orifice small, 

 without operculum. Bill curved from the cera, and covered with feathers. Toes 

 more or less thickly feathered. Shafts of the wing-feathers strong and stiff. 



a. Microptynx. b. Nyctea. c. ? d. ? e. Surnia. 



Subgenus a. Microptynx. 



Glaucidium (pars), Boie. 



Diagn. — First wing-feather shorter than the tenth. First to fourth wing-feathers 

 emarginated. Toes very thin, covered with feathers. No bristle-feathers. 

 It represents in its genus the genus Glaucidium. ' 



1. Surnia passerina, Kp. (PI. LVI. fig. 5 a, bill ; b, wing.) 



Sfrix passerina, Linn. 



pusilla, Daud. 



pygmaa, Bechst. 



acadica, T. Naum. t. 43. 1, 3. 



Glaucidium passerinum, Boie. 



Athene passerina et africana, G. R. Gray ; Lev. Afr. t. 46j Nils. Seand. Faun. t. 3. 



Diagn. — Tail 56-62 mm. long, with five arrow-like cross bands reaching to the 

 shafts. 



Descr. — Head ash-grey, with white dark-margined spots. Back and tail-coverts 

 with concealed white spots, the feathers on these parts having a white band near the 

 base, and a spot at the end. Shoulder-coverts with three to four whitish shaft-spots or 

 bands on each feather. The small feathers on the wing with white spots. Arm- and 

 hand-wings blackish, with rufous and small rufous-brownish bands, which on the 

 external and internal margins are spotted with white. The wings are crossed by six to 

 eight lighter- coloured bands, which are white over the emarginations. Sides of breast 



