STRIGES 



249 



In the foot of Strix (see fig. 127) the first phalanx of digit 

 III. is much less than the second in length ; in most other 

 owls (fig, 128) these two phalanges are small and subequal ; 

 Photodilus is intermediate. The latter genus has the pecu- 

 liarity that the last digit has only four phalanges instead 

 of five, the two basal ones being fused. 



The number of cervical vertebrae does not appear to vary. 



Fio. 127. — Bight Foot of Strix (afteb Beddahd). 



I have found fourteen in Strix, Fhotodilus,' Ketupa, and 

 other genera which I have examined. In Buho hengalensis 

 the ring of the atlas is incomplete above ; the significance of 

 the occurrence of this same deficiency in Pandion is largely 

 lost, owing to the fact that Gariama is similarly characterised. 

 The haemapophyses in Ketupa javanensis commence as 

 single processes on Cll, and extend to D3 ; on CIO is a 



