OWL. 335 



white spot near the end, and bordered below with pale brown ; tail 

 plain bro^vn ; the wings, when closed, reach to the end of it ; legs 

 downy qnite to the claws. 



Inhabits New Sonth Wales. — In the collection of A. Hamson, 

 Esq. 



34.— VARIEGATED OWL. 



Strix nisuella, Ind. Orn. i. p. 14. Shaw''s Zool. vii. 279. ■ 

 Choucouhon, Levail. Ois. i. p. 157. No. 39. 

 Choiiette Choucouhon, Daud. Orn. u: p. 187. 

 Variegated Owl, Gen. Syn. Sup. ii. p. 62. 



THIS is the size of the Long-Eared Owl, but is less bulky, and 

 stands higher on its legs. The bill is black ; irides yellow ; the 

 circles of the face round the eyes are white, with dusky markings ; 

 chin wliite, but the plumage iu general is brown, in various shades, 

 with a mixture of white, and on the under parts of the body 

 iiTcgularly barred brown and white ; the legs are covered with downy 

 grey feathers ; the tail banded dusky brown and rufous white, 

 cuneifonn in shape, and the wings, when closed, reach two-thirds 

 thereon. 



Inhabits Afiica ; met with in the neighbourhood of the Cape 

 of Good Hope, especially about Orange River, and the Grand 

 Namaquas ; supposed to prey in the evening, for although seen in 

 the day, it has been only when the small birds have surrounded it, 

 as an object not usually met with. 



The female is somewhat larger than the male, but diflers very 

 little in the plumage, except that the former has less white, and 

 the irides of a paler yellow. 



