278 AFRICAN OWL. 



of colours, and the tail longer in proportion. An 

 observation made by Monsieur Virey, copied, 

 probably, either from Doctor Pallas or Lepechin, 

 seems to militate against the supposition of its 

 being a variety of the Hawk Owl; viz. that the 

 three first wing-feathers are serrated on the outer 

 edge; whereas we shall find, on recurring to 

 Edwards's description of the Hawk Owl, that " the 

 prime quill hath hardly any of that reflecting back 

 of the points of the outer web as is observed in 

 Owls." It is a native of many parts of Siberia, 

 and along the chain of the Ural mountains. Its 

 size is said by Monsieur Virey to be that of the 

 Hidotte, (S. Aluco, Lin.) It is observed during 

 severe frost to retire into the cavities of rocks, and 

 does not again make its appearance till the return 

 of fine weather. 



AFRICAN OWL. 



Strix Africana. S. subfusca subtus nivea, cauda fasciis numerosis 



linearibus a/bis. 

 Brownish Owl, snow-white beneath, with the tail crossed by 



numerous linear white bars. 

 Le Choucou. Levaill. ois.pl. 38, 

 Falconine Owl. Lath. syn. suppl. 2. 



In general proportions exactly similar to the 

 immediately preceding species, but is of smaller 

 size, measuring about ten inches in length. Its 

 colour above is an elegant pale brown, the shorte 

 quill-feathers tipped with dull white; the tail 



