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



Subfamily II. STRIGIN^E, Kaup. Night or true Owls. 

 I. Scops. II. Otus. III. Bubo. IV. Strix. V. Syrnium. 



In this more numerous subfamily we find a greater ear-orifice^ with large operculum, 

 feather-horns, a very pneumatic skull, enlarged at the occiput. The plumage is softer 

 and more darkly coloured. The inner webs of the wings are broader, and covered 

 with a silk-like, very soft felt. 



This subfamily is more nocturnal, and has a more noiseless flight than the former. 

 The smaller birds of this group live upon insects, small birds, and mammalia, but the 

 larger confine themselves to larger mammalia and birds. 



Genus I. Scops, Sav. 

 a. ? b. Scops, c. Acnemis. d. Ptilopsis. e. Megascops. 



Diagn. — Very small Owls, with an ear-orifice not so large as the diameter of the eye, 

 and with feather-horns. 



Descr. — They show a very handsome round skull, nearly without pneumacity, and 

 have the largest and most perfect brain. 



They prefer warm to cold countries, and we find the species spread over the whole 

 earth. 



Subgenus b. Scops. 



Diagn. — The nostrils placed on the margin of the cere. Wings long and pointed. 

 The first wing-feather distinctly emarginated at the end, the second and third not so 

 distinctly. The first wing-feather longer than the tenth, the third or fourth the 

 longest. Tarsi feathered. Toes always naked and scaled. Confined to the Old World. 



1. ScOPS EPHIALTES, SaV. 



Strix scops, Linn., Naum. t. 43. 3. 



zorca et camiolica, Gmel. 



pulchella, Pall. 



giu, Scop. 



Scops zorca, Swains, Aldrovandi, Flem. 



europteus. Less. 



Ephialtes scops, PI. Enl. 436; Gould, Birds of Europe, t. 41. 



Diagn. — The wing 141, the tail 62 mm. long. First wing-feather as long as the 

 fifth. 



Descr. — Whole plumage ash-grey, with elegant white spots ; with oblong black shaft- 

 spots and fine cross lines. Face silvery ash-grey, sprinkled with fine dark spots. Margin- 



