236 



STBIGIDAE 



STKIX 



direction from the eye and bordered by a series of narrow upstanding 

 stiff feathers forming a surrounding ruff ; no ear tufts; wings long 

 and pointed reaching nearly to the end of the tail, the difference 

 between the length of the primaries and secondaries about equal 

 to' the tarsus ; legs long, tarsus feathered for about two-thirds its 

 length, the lower portion covered by a few bristles only ; toes bare 

 or with only a few bristles ; claw of the middle toe pectinated along 

 its inner edge. 



Fig. 78. — Sternum of Strix flammea, showing the slight posterior notch. 



Fig. 79. — Claw of the middle toe of Strix flammea, showing the pectina- 

 tion. X I, 



This genus contains some three or four species in addition to the 

 common Barn Owl, which is cosmopolitan in its range, but which 

 has recently been divided up into a large number of local races or 

 sub-species. In addition to the world-wide form one other species 

 is found within our limits. 



Key of the Sjiecies. 



A. Back vermioulated grey; a reddish-browu 



spot in front of the eye S. flammea, p. 287. 



B. Back brown with a few white spots ; a black 



spot in front of the eye 8. capensia, p. 289. 



