SHORT-EARED OWL. 277 



neck and the fore part of the back are buff and dark brown, the central 

 part of each feather being of the latter colour. The scapulars and 

 wing-coverts are spotted and banded in large patches of the same co- 

 lour, and many of them have a large spot of yellowish-white on thfe 

 outer web near the end. The edge of the wing is whitish ; the alula 

 and primary coverts dark brown, the outer webs pale buff at the base ; 

 the quills buff, with a narrow space along the shafts, the ends and two 

 or three broad bands dark brown. The tail is buff, with five broad 

 bands of brown, the tip yellowish-white ; on the middle feathers the 

 light coloured spaces are ocellate, or have a patch of brown in the 

 centre. The lower parts are pale buff, whitish behind ; the neck with 

 oblong, the breast and sides with linear dark brown streaks ; the chin, 

 legs and feet, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts unspotted. 



Length to end of tail 15 inches, to end of wings 17, to end of claws 

 15^ ; extent of wings 40 ; bill along the ridge l^^^ ; tarsus 1{^ ; hind 

 toe j'^, its claw j% ; middle toe 1^^, its claw i% Weight 1 lb. 1^ oz. 



The Female is considerably larger, but resembles the male in co- 

 lour. Individuals vary considerably in tint, some having their ground- 

 colour light yellowish-red, others buff, and some yellowish or reddish 

 white. Younger individuals have the dark spots and streaks on the 

 lower parts broader. 



A male preserved in spirits. The conch of the ear is similar to 

 that of the Long-eared Owl, already described, commencing nearly 

 above the middle of the eye, and ending near the angle of the mouth, 

 its outer flap being 3^ inches in length. The mouth is very wide, mea- 

 sm-ing li^2 inch across ; the palate has two longitudinal ridges ; the 

 posterior apertin-e of the nares is oblong, with an anterior slit, a posterior 

 papillate flap, and numerous papillae along the sides. The tongue is 

 short, fleshy, oblong, flattened, deeply emarginate and papillate at the 

 base, the tip rounded and emarginate. The oesophagus is 6 inches 

 long, very wide, its diameter being about 10 twelfths, destitute of crop 

 or dilatation. The proventriculus is about the same width ; its glandules, 

 which are small, cylindrical, 2 twelfths long and half a twelfth broad, 

 form a belt about 8 twelfths in breadth. The stomach is of moderate 

 size, roundish, Ij^^ inch in diameter ; its muscular coat very thin, and 

 composed of a single series of strong fasciculi ; its tendons | inch 

 broad ; its inner coat soft, thin, longitudinally rugous. The intestine 



