EGYPTIAN EAGLE OWL 
Bubo ascalaphus 
Arabic, Buma 
Plumage a rich buff-brown, with darker markings of black, 
brown, and grey. Large wing-feathers and tail broadly 
barred with blackish brown; chin and upper throat white ; 
under-plumage bright golden buff, with blotches and streaks 
on the flanks; beak black; eyes of most intense flame-like 
orange. Total length, 20 inches. 
Tuis name Eagle Owl is almost more imposing 
than the bird itself, as, though large, it is much 
smaller than the Eagle Owl of Europe. 
It is to be found in some of the very largest 
of the temples, ruined or otherwise, but, as far 
as my own knowledge goes, not in many of the 
smaller buildings. Its principal haunts are the 
steep cliff-like sides of the hills and mountains. 
When staying in the Valley of the Tombs of 
the Kings, every night regularly as the sun sank 
behind the ridge, the first weird “Booom” rang 
out, soon to be answered by another similar call 
from another part of the hills, and then, soon and 
silently, there floated past the big dull brown form. 
Sailing away to the opposite side, with my glasses 
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