BOBONID^ GLAUCIDIUM 259 



found in pairs and during the heat of the day sits perched in the 

 shade of a thick tree, whence it flies off when disturbed with a 

 dipping flight like that of a thrush. Its food consists chiefly of 

 insects, such as grasshoppers and even termites, but it occasionally 

 catches mice and lizards. This Owl does not hoot, but has a peculiar 

 whistle compared by Ayres to that of the Golden Cuckoo and 

 frequently heard in the evening and early morning. It is often 

 mobbed by small birds when detected during the day time. 



Although many naturalists and collectors have obtained and 

 observed this bird, no one, so far as I am aware, has yet described its 

 nesting habits or its eggs. 



501. Glaucidium capense. Barred Owl. 



Nootua capensis, SmitJi, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii, p. 313 (1834). 

 Athene capensis, Smith, III. Zool. S. Afr. Aves, pi. 33 (1839) ; Layard, 



B. 8. Afr. p. 37 (1867). 

 Tsenioglaux capensis, Gurney, Ibis, 1868, p. 147 ; id. in Andersson's 



B. Damaraland, p. 38 (1872) ; W. Ayres, Ibis, 1887, p. 50 [Zoutspans- 



berg]. 

 Carine capensis, Sharpe, ed. Layard's B. 8. Afr. pp. 77, 802, pi. 3 



(1875-84). 

 Glaucidium capense, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. ii, p. 223 (1875) ; 8helley, Ibis, 



1882, p. 239 [Umfuli river]; id. B. Afr. i, p. 142 (1896); W. L. 



Sclater, Ibis, 1899, p. 286 [Inhambane] ; Alexander, Ibis, 1900, p. 



433 [Zambesi Valley]; Beichenow, Vog. Afr. i, p. 672 (1901). 



Description. Adult male. — General colour above, brown, the 

 crown and nape finely barred with white, the back and wings more 

 broadly with pale rufous which also forms a wash all over the back ; 

 outer webs of the outer scapulars white, forming a longitudinal band 

 on either side ; wing-quills brown, barred with pale rufous with a 

 few white spots on the coverts, inner primaries and secondaries ; 

 tail with narrow transverse bands of brown and pale rufous ; a 

 white eyebrow ; lores and ear-coverts gray, chin and lower throat 

 white, separated by a brown irregular band ; rest of the under sur- 

 face white, the breast banded, the abdomen spotted with brown ; 

 tarsi feathered to the base of the toes, dirty white ; toes sparsely 

 covered with coarse bristles. 



Iris bright yellow ; bill bluish-horn ; toes pale yellow. 



Length about 9'75; wing 5'30 ; tail 3'40 : culmen0'60; tarsus 

 1-20. 



The sexes resemble one another in size and plumage. 



