70 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



with more dark brown and less white than in S. u. ulula ; bars 

 on under -parts considerably broader than in S. u. ulula and inclined 

 to be more tawny on flanks and lower belly. This plumage is 

 acquired by complete moult Aug. -Nov. 



Nestling and juvenile. — (Not examined.) 



Measurements and structure. — ■$ wing 221-233 mm., tail 170-186, 

 tarsus 23-28, bill from base of feathers 22-24 (11 measured). $ wing 

 225-237. Rest of structure as in 8. u. ulula. 



Soft parts. — As in 8. u. ulula. 



Breeding-habits. — Breeds sometimes in old nests of other species, 

 or in old Woodpecker holes, hollow tops of stumps, and cavities 

 in tree ; and it is said also in recesses in face of cliffs. No nest, 

 but a few feathers may be found scattered about. Eggs. — 4 to 9, 

 white. Average of 49 eggs, 39.5x31.5. Max.: 43x32 and 

 39.4x32.8. Min. : 36.5x30. Breeding-season. — Begins in April, 

 but fresh eggs have been obtained as late as June. Single brooded. 

 Incubation. — Chiefly by hen, which alone has incubation patch, 

 male mounting guard near, but Grinnell records male brooding 

 eggs and young. Eggs laid at intervals. 



Food. — In summer chiefly mice, lemmings, ground squirrels and 

 voles, but small, passerine birds and insects (grasshoppers, etc.) 

 also recorded : in winter subsists mainly on Lagopus lagopus. 



Distribution. — Great Britain. — Four. One off Cornwall, March, 

 1830. One Yatton (Somerset), Aug., 1847. One Maryhill (Lanark), 

 Dec, 1863. One near Greenock (Renfrew), Nov., 1868 (Saunders, 

 p. 305). A second near Greenock Dec, 1871, seems of doubtful 

 authenticity. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Northern North America, in winter in 

 small numbers as far south as Washington, Nebraska, Indiana, 

 Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, and Maine. 



Genus ^GOLIUS Kaup. 



iEGOLius Kaup, Skizz. Entwick. Gesch. & Syst., p. 34 (1829 — Monotype 

 A. tengmalmi). 



Small to medium-sized Owls with large heads without any 

 ear -tufts or only minute indications of the latter. Eyes compara- 

 tively small. Very large and asymmetrical ears ; even the skull 

 not quite symmetric. Third and fourth primaries equal and 

 longest, in some American species second to fourth. Two outermost 

 primaries only emarginated (notched) on inner webs, and rather 

 near to tip. Tail very slightly rounded. Tarsus and toes very 

 thickly clothed in feathers. Two species in northern portions of 

 Northern Hemisphere, each with several subspecies. 



