STRIX CAPENSIS. 



the inner vanes pale cream-yellow, both crossed vvith four brown bars ; the 

 outer vanes of the two outermost scinna-yellow, inner vanes white, both with 

 four imperfect brown bars ; the points of all the feathers slightly speckled 

 with white ; bill and toes livid straw-yellow ; eyes brownish black ; claws a 

 dark horn colour. The whole of the plumage has a slight silky gloss. 



Form, &c. — Typical. Bill strongly hooked and pointed. Facial disc 

 rather large, the feathers rigid and wiry, those in front of the eyes directed 

 forwards and covering the base of the bill ; cervical collar strongly marked, 

 the feathers compact, erect, and arranged in several rows, their points 

 slightly rounded; wings large, and when folded reach about an inch and a 

 half beyond the point of the tail ; the second quill feather the longest, the 

 first and third slightly shorter, the fourth considerably shorter ; tail small and 

 square at the point ; legs long ; upper half of tarsi covered with feathers, 

 lower half and toes covered with small flat circular scales, upon which are 

 scattered a few strong rigid bristles ; the last joint of toes with two or three 

 transverse plates superiorly ; claws long, slightly curved and pointed. 



DIMENSIONS. 



laches. Lines. 

 Length from the point of tlio bill to 



the tip of the tail IC 



of the bill from the gape 1 



of the wings when folded ... ] 2 S 

 of the tail 5 3 



Length of the tarsus .... 

 of the outer toe . 

 of the middle toe. 

 of the inner toe . , 

 of the hinder toe . 



The Jhnale is considerably larger than the male, and the colours are not so 

 clear. The down with which the young bird is clothed is a dull cream-yellow, 

 and the plumage of the upper parts during the first year is darker than in 

 adult birds. 



The few specimens of this species which I have seen were obtained near Cape Town, close 

 to Table Mountain, in the rocky precipices of which they were said to have concealed them- 

 selves during the day. The colonists recognise this bird as distinct from what they call the 

 Doodvogel, {Strix jiammea, Lin.) which occurs abundantly throughout the whole of South Africa. 

 By its size we at once distinguish it from Strix badia, Horsfield, the species to which it is by 

 colours most nearly allied. 



