DESCRIPTION. 
0) Wak: 
La Chouette blanche, Levaill. Oi/i. p. 174. pl. 45.—Daudin. Ora. ii. p. 190. 
HIS bird, from the authority of Mr. Levaillant, appears to be 
diftinc&t from either the Snowy Owl or Wapacuthu ; neither can 
it be a white variety of our Great E. O.as itis entirely earlefs; befides, 
the comparative meafurements of various parts will fhew at once, 
that it ought to ftand alone as a fpecies; in fize it is fmaller than_ 
the Szowy Ovw/, and of a more fquat form than that bird: the head 
too is much larger in proportion: the tail is fhort, and the wings 
exceed it in length when clofed fome inches, whereas in the Sxowy 
Owl the tail is pretty long, and the wings do not reach more than 
half way thereon: the legs in the fpecies here treated of are very 
fhort, and fo completely covered with feathers, as nearly to hide the 
claws: the whole plumage is fnow white, with exception to a few 
fcattered fpots of black on the wing coverts and quills: the bill, 
which is nearly hid in the face feathers, and the claws, are black. 
It is uncertain from whence this bird came, but a fpecimen is in 
the collection of MM. Raye de Breukelerward, at dm/fterdam. 
Str. lammea, Ind. Orz. i. p. Go. 28. 
L’Effraie, Lewaill. Oif i. p. 164.—Daudin. Orn. ii. p. 197- 
White or Barn Owl, Gez. Syz.i. p. 138. 26.—Jd. Sup. p. 46. 
HIS is very common at the Cape of Good Hope, but in defect of 
barns, out-houfes, and old buildings, it is conftrained to make the 
neft among. the rocks, in the hollows of which it lays feven or eight 
white eggs, on a neft compofed of a few twigs and dried leaves. The 
natives call it Doodvogel (Bird of Death) and the other kinds of owls. 
Uylers, by which name they call all night-birds. 
