RELATIVE VIABILITY IN MAMMALS AXD BIRDS. 



493 



AsiONiD.E {con.t.). liuiiv. 



Babo nepalensis (Nepal Eagle-Owl)... 1 



B. orientalis (Oriental ,, )... 1 



B. poensis (Fraser's ,, )... 3 



B. virginianus (Virginian ,, )... 18 



Ketwpa ceylonensis (Ceylonese Fishing- 4 



Owl). 



K. javanensis (Javanese Fishing-Owl). 5 



Scops, whole genus 17 



8. asio (American Scops Owl) 1 



S. giu (Scops Owl) 10 



aS*. grZaJrzjyes (Smooth- footed Scops Owl) 1 



S. lempiji (Horsfield's ,, ) 1 



/S. leucotis (White-eared ,, ) 3 



S. senegalensis (Senegal ,, ) 1 



Scotopelia jjeli (Pel's Owl) 1 



F'ulsatrix torquata (Downy Owl) 10 



Sceloglaux rtZ&(/ac«es (White-faced Owl) 1 



A thene brama (Spotted Owl) 2 



..4. 7ioc^^6« (Naked-footed Owlet) 14 



JV^inox boobook (Boobook Owl) 3 



JS^. novce-seelandice (New Zealand Owl) 1 



Speotyto cunicularia (Burrowing ,, ) 46 



Glaucidmm passerinum (Passerine „ ) 13 



G. phcdcenoides (Brown ,, ,, ) 1 



Nyctea scandiaca (Snowy Owl) 9 



Surnia funerea (American Hawk Owl) 1 



Summary of Sti'iges. 



We know from Mr. J. H. Gurney's paper {loc. cit. p. 36) that 

 the potential longevity of Owls is far in excess of the maximum 

 durations recorded here. On excellent authority, that writer 

 cites an Eagle-Owl of 68 years, a Ketupa of 39 years, and a 

 Tawny Owl of 26 years. The longest record on my list is that of 

 an Indranee Owl which lived for over 11 years in the Gardens, 

 and at the present time there are alive a Milky Eagle-Owl which 

 has been for 19 years and a Pel's Owl which has been for 12 years 

 in the Gardens. Until comparatively recently the quarters 

 assigned to the Owls at the Gardens were extremely bad ; it was 

 assumed that Owds required neither light nor space. They have 

 now been given better accommodation, and it is interesting to 

 state, that except the Barn Owls, all the Owls take the fullest 

 opportunity of sunning themselves and spend the greater part of 

 their time fully exjDosed. Although a good deal must be dis- 

 counted as a direct reaction to unfavourable conditions, it is still 

 clear that the viability of Owls is not good ; not only are the 

 maximum durations far below what we know to be the potential 

 longevities, but the average durations are in most cases extremely 



