SYRNIIN^. 125 



The Himalayan Wood Owl has only been found in the higher 

 regions of the Himalayas, not descending below 7,000 feet; 

 and found, according to Hodgson, up to the snowy region. Its 

 congener in Europe, S. aluco, resides in thick woods, nestles in 

 holes of trees, and is celebrated for its loud, hooting calls. 



To this sub-family belong S. cinerea of Europe, S. nehulosa of 

 North- America, and S. uralense of Pallas, from Northern Europe 

 and Asia, forming the genus Ptynx of Blyth ; and there are others 

 from Africa and America. 



Sub-fam. AsiONiNiE, Vigors. 



Syn. Otince, apud Gray. 



Head large, with two aigrettes, or plumes of lengthened 

 feathers, on each side of the forehead ; orifice of the ears large, 

 lunate, operculate; wings long, second quill longest, and third 

 quill sub-equal to it ; tail moderate, or longish, nearly even ; 

 facial disk nearly perfect ; bill short, strong, curved from the base ; 

 upper mandible sometimes festooned, well protected by bristles ; 

 tarsus stout, moderate, or short, feathered, as are the toes as far as 

 the scales in front of the nails, which are sub-equal. 



This family chiefly differs from the last in the horns or tufts of 

 erectile feathers on the forehead, the longer wings, and the very 

 much larger ear, which is enormous and unsymmetric in some 

 species ; they are mostly nocturnal in their habits ; are of moderate 

 size ; and their irides are yellow. 



Gen. Otus, Cuvier. 



Syn. Asio, Strickland and Blyth. Brachyotus, Gould. 

 Char. — Same as those of the sub -family. 



67. Otus vulgaris, Fleming. 



HoESF., Cat. 93— Asio otus, apud Blyth, Cat. 145 — Gould, 

 Birds of Europe, PI. 39. 



The Long-eared Owl. 



Descr. — Above, the forehead finely mottled dusky and tawny ; 

 the ear tufts about If inches long, deep brown, edged with tawny ; 



