ORDER ACCIPITRES. 71 



The Horned Owls. Otus, (Cuv.) 



Such as have on the forehead two plumes of feathers, 

 which are erected at pleasure, and whose ear conch 

 extends in a half circle from the beak toward the 

 summit of the head, and is furnished in front with 

 membranaceous opercula. Their feet have feathers 

 down to the talons. Of these there are in Europe, 



The Short-crested Owl. {St. ascalaphus, Savig.) Brit. Zool. 

 tab. b. iii. pi. col. t. 57. 



One-fourth longer than the common species, and like 

 it yellow, dotted with brown, and vermiculated on the 

 wings and back, but the belly striped across with 

 narrow lines, and the crests very short. Of Africa, 

 but sometimes appears in Europe. 



The Common long-eared Owl. {St. Otus, L.) Frisch. 89, 

 Brit. Zool. t. 434, f. 1 ; Wilson, A. O. t. 51, f. 3= 



Yellow, with longitudinal brown spots on the body, 

 vermiculated with brown on the wings and back ; 

 crests half the length of the head ; eight or nine bands 

 on the tail. The S. Mexicana et Americana differs 

 from this only in the spots being blacker and less 

 diffused ; but is considered distinct by the American 

 ornithologists. 



The Short-eared Owl, and Brown Owl. {St. ulula and St. 

 brachyotos, Gm.) Enl. 438 ; Frisch. 100, Brit. Zool. t. 

 b. iv. f. 2. 



Nearly like the preceding as to colours ; the back not 

 reticulated, but narrow lines upon the belly, and four 



