258 



Figures notabiles. 



D'Aubenton, PL Enl. 438 ; Werner, Atlas, Rapaces, pi. 44 ; Kjserb. Orn. Dan. taf. vii. ; 

 Frisch, Vog. Deutchl. taf. 98; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 11. fig. 6 ; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. 

 taf. 45. fig. 2 ; Sundevall, Svensk. Fogl. pi. 25. fig. 2 ; Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 40 ; id. B. of 

 G. Brit. i. pi. 32 ; Roux, Orn. Prov. pi. 49 ; Audub. B. of Am. pi. 38 ; Wilson, Am. Om. 

 pi. 33. fig. 3. 



Ad. supra pallide rufescenti-ochraceus vix cervino tinctus, ubique xiigro-fusco striatus vel notatus : supracau- 

 dalibus ochraceis versus apicem indistincte fusco fasciatis : remigibus rufescenti-ochraceis, versus apicem 

 fuscis et fusco fasciatis, sed in pogonio interno versus basin immaculatis : cauda ochracea albido apicata 

 et saturate fusco fasciata : plumis circum oculos nigricantibus : facie albida vix nigro notata et linea 

 ochraceo-albida nigro-fusco guttata circumcincta : corpore subtus ochraceo, nigro-fusco striata, abdomine 

 imo et pedibus pallide ocbraceis fere immaculatis : auricularibus plumis brevioribus, pilei plumis 

 similibus. 



Juv. magis rufescens et brunnescens, ubique saturation striis in corpore supra saturatioribus et majoribus : 

 iride pallide flava. 



Pull, lanugine tectus : corpore supra saturate fusco, ochraceo notato : fronte et regione circum oculos saturate 

 fuscis : corpore subtus ochraceo, gutture et pectore superiore fuliginoso adumbrato. 



Adult Female (Constantinople, 12th April). Upper parts warm ochreous with a bufly tinge, broadly streaked 

 with blackish brown, the scapulars and wing-coverts more broadly marked, and rather blotched than 

 streaked; upper tail-coverts nearly uniform ochreous, the feathers shaded and indistinctly barred 

 with brown towards the tip ; primaries rufescent ochreous, on the terminal portion brown, and other- 

 wise broadly barred with this colour, the inner webs, however, are unbarred on the basal half; secon- 

 daries marked more like the scapulars, the barrings being closer and more blurred; tad ochreous, 

 tipped with buny white and barred with dark brown ; feathers round the eye blackish, but otherwise 

 the facial disk is dull white with a few scattered blackish markings; ruff white with a yellowish tinge, 

 spotted and speckled with blackish brown ; ear-tufts short, only about half an inch long, and coloured 

 like the crown ; underparts pale ochreous, with blackish brown streaks, which, however, are wanting 

 on the legs and nearly so on the lower abdomen and under tail-coverts ; bdl and claws blackish ; iris 

 bright yellow. Total length about 14 inches, culmen 1-4, wing 12 - 2, tail 6 - 0, tarsus 2 - 0. 



Adult Male (Orkney) . Resembles the female, but is much paler, the underparts are less streaked ; and it is 

 smaller, measuring — wing 11"7, tail 5'8. 



Young. Differs from the adult in having the plumage much browner and darker, the dark markings larger, 

 and the ochreous ground-colour in the plumage is more rufous and darker ; the iris is hght sulphur- 

 yellow instead of rich deep yellow. 



Nestling (Orkney). Covered with close soft down; upper parts dull dark brown, the down tipped with 

 warm ochraceous ; forehead and round the eye deep brown ; underparts ochraceous, on the throat and 

 upper breast clouded with sooty brown. 



The range of the Sbort-eared Owl is much more extensive than that of Asio otus ; for it is found 

 throughout Europe, Asia, and America, from the arctic regions down into Africa and the lower 



