358 OWL. 



of the plumage rufous, striated, both above and beneath, with 

 narrow, transverse, waved brown lines ; claws black. 



Inhabits Cayenne. It has been by some held as a variety of 

 the Bam Owl, but though the ground of the plumage be nearly the 

 same, the distribution of colours being every where transverse, instead 

 of direct, seems to contradict the circumstance, and especially, as 

 various specimens have been brought both from Cayenne, and the 

 West India Islands, precisely the same in markings as our Barn 

 Owl ; nor are the irides of the latter saffron-colour, 



59.— 3I0USE OWL. 



LENGTH 17 in. or more. Bill white; face reddish buff; from 

 the chin a chocolate mark, surrounding the margin of both the face 

 circles, and finishing at the hind-head ; before the eye dusky black ; 

 plumage above dark ash-colour, speckled with grey, dashed with 

 white ; this appearance arising from each feather having a darker 

 spot at the end, and within this a triangular white mark ; the inner 

 webs of the feathers rusty yellow, as in the Barn Owl ; quills and 

 tail clouded, the latter crossed with five or six bands of black, mar- 

 gined above and below with white ; under parts of the body, and 

 under wing coverts pale buff, with a dull, dusky spot at the end of 

 each feather ; outer quill greatly serrated, the second less so, the 

 edges of the others smooth ; legs feathered to the toes, the latter 

 hairy ; claws black. 



Inhabits New Holland; not milike the Barn Owl, but darker in 

 plumage ; has the manners of it ; feeds chiefly on mice, which it 

 swallows whole, as also small reptiles. 



