404 



CORACIIFORMES 



CHAP. 



feathers. As mentioned above (p. 400), the bird is almost cosmo- 

 poHtan, if we disregard the sub-species proposed. It is rare in 

 northern Scotland. It lays its four to six dull white eggs, with- 

 out any nest, in hollow trees, 

 crevices in masonry or rocks, 

 towers, belfries, lofts, and so 

 forth, and has been known to 

 breed in holes in banks or 

 cliffs in America, between fork- 

 ing branches in the Philip- 

 pines, and on the ground in 

 Madagascar. The eggs are not 

 uncommonly deposited at con- 

 siderable intervals. The food 

 consists chiefly of small rodents, 

 though birds, bats, insects, and 

 even small fish are eaten; the 

 note is a weird screech, while 

 young and old make a snoring 

 noise at the nesting place. 

 A¥hen this bird frequents dove- 

 cotes it destroys the rats which 

 prey npon the eggs and young 

 of pigeons, and is itself practi- 

 cally harmless. According to 

 Dr. Sharpe ^ the following may 

 also be admitted as valid 

 species : S. novae JioUandiae 

 of Australia, >S'. tenebricosa of 

 that country and New Guinea, >S'. capensis of South Africa, and 

 S. Candida, the Grass Owl, ranging from India to China, Formosa, 

 Xorth Australia, and Fiji. S. castanops of Tasmania may perhaps 

 be added, and S. auraniiaca of Xew Britain is certainly distinct, 

 but may not belong to this genus. 



HdunHhis soumagnii of Madagascar is cinnamon-rufous above, 

 with a few black spots on the head, and bars on the wing and tail ; 

 it is lighter below and pinker on the face. The toes are bare. 



Sub-fam. 2. Buhoninae. — Photodilus hadius, found from the 

 Eastern Himalayas to Ceylon, the Burmese Countries, Borneo, 



^ Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. ii. 1875, pp. 290-309. 



Fig. 85. — Screecli-Owl. Strix fiammea. 



