OTUS CAPENSIS. 



blackish brown. Chin white ; cervical collar dark brown, variegated where 

 it crosses the throat with small sienna-yellow spots. Egrets reddish brown, 

 vermiculated with sienna-yellow. Eyes blackish brown. Bill, toes, and 

 claws livid brownish black, or a deep horn-colour. 



Form, &c. — Figure moderately slender. Head small and rounded ; facial 

 disc small, convex, and ill-defined ; the feathers of the disc rigid, wiry, and 

 decomposed, those at and below the inner canthus of the eye directed inwards 

 and forwards, so as to conceal the base of the bill ; egrets short and delicate, 

 recumbent, except when the bird is excited. Bill arched from the base, 

 compressed, and the mandible slender towards the point, the hook of the 

 upper one long and slender; nostrils small and rounded; cervical collar 

 rigid, broad at the throat and narrow at its extremities, which are situated 

 some way behind and rather above the level of the eyes. Wings long, and 

 when folded reach to nearly the tip of the tail, the second and third quill- 

 feathers equal and longest, the fourth rather shorter, the first and fifth equal, 

 and about an inch and a quarter shorter than the second ; — all the feathers 

 are very broad. Tail rather short and slightly rounded. Tarsi long, and 

 densely covered with short silky feathers. Toes short, moderately strong, 

 and coated with small somewhat circular scales and scattered bristles. 

 Claws long, slender, and slightly curved. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Length from the point of the bill to 



the tip of the tail 15 



of the bill from the gape 1 



of the wings when folded 11 



of the tail 6 



The female is rather larger than the male: the colours are the same in both 



sexes. 



This is rather a rare bird in South Africa, and as far as I know, has never been found but in 

 marshy situations. It passes the day among the rushes, reeds, or long grass, and five or six 

 individuals are sometimes found congregated together. When disturbed, they fly only a short 

 distance before they attempt to conceal themselves again, and it is not before they have been 

 several times flushed in succession that they seek safety in a prolonged flight. They feed 

 upon mice, lizards, and water insects. 



