Barn Owl. RAPTORES. STRIX. 101 



large and defended by an opercubim of great size. Iri- 

 des bluish-black. RufF and facial feathers white ; but in 

 some specimens the ruff is of a brownish colour, as is 

 also the lower and inner angle of the eye. Crown of 

 the head, back and wings, ochreous yellow, of lighter 

 or darker shades in different individuals, according to 

 age or sex ; the tips of the feathers with fine zigzag 

 lines, and black and white spots. Inner webs of the 

 greater quills white, with four dusky spots, very broad ; 

 the barbs having their tips detached, and open; the 

 outer web of the first feather with the tips of the barbs 

 open, distinct, and recurved. First quill-feather rather 

 shorter than the second, which is the longest in the 

 wing ; inner web of the first sinuated near the tip. 

 Wings, when closed, reaching beyond the end of the tail, 

 which is even. Under parts pure white, in some tinged 

 with ochreous yellow, and small brown spots or specks. 

 Tarsi clothed with short downy feathers, with setaceous 

 tips. Toes thinly covered with dirty-white hairy fea- 

 thers. Claws yellowish-white, the middle one having 

 its inner edge imperfectly serrated ; and all of them be- 

 ing more or less grooved beneath. 



Genus ULULA, Cuv. HOWLET. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill nearly strait at the base ; the tip hooked ; with a 

 rounded culmen, cutting margin of the upper mandible ha- 

 ving a small lobe or sinuation near the middle. Facial disk 

 large and complete, auditory conch rather large, and de- 

 fended by an operculum. Wings short, rounded, concave ; 

 the first quill-feather very short ; the fourth the longest in 

 the wing, with the third and fifth nearly equal to it. Tail 

 reaching beyond the closed wings, rounded, bent, and con- 

 cave beneath. Legs having the tarsi plumed; and the toes 



