THE LONG-EARED OWL. 83 



tail-coverts usually last to moult. Primaries, secondaries, primary- 

 coverts and tail-feathers are not moulted. 



Measurements and structure. — <J wing 280-300 mm., tail 132-153, 

 tarsus 35-40, bill from base of feathers 25-28 (12 British measured). 

 5 wing 275-300. Primaries : 2nd longest, 3rd as long or 3-7 mm. 

 shorter, 1st 23-35 shorter, 4th 15-25 shorter, 5th 32-50 shorter ; 

 outer edge of 1st with long serrations, rami being curved and without 

 radii at their tips, 2nd slightly emarginated at distal end and 

 this portion only with short serrations, outer edge of outer feather 

 of " bastard " wing also serrated ; outer secondaries about as 

 Jong as 10th primary, rest becoming longer and longest equalling 

 7th primary, tips rounded. Tail slightly rounded, 12 feathers, 

 tips rounded. Toes as tarsus covered with downy feathers, three 

 toes directed forwards and one backwards, daws long, much com- 

 pressed, curved and tapering to very sharp point. Bill short, 

 compressed and strong at tip and upper mandible stronglj 7- curved 

 and projecting at tip which is sharply pointed, lower mandible 

 shorter with rounded tip. Nostrils covered by bristle-like feathers 

 of disk. 



Soft parts. — Bill blackish -horn, greyish flesh at tip ; claws 

 blackish horn ; iris bright go] den -orange. 



Characters and allied forms. — A. o. canariensis (Gran Canaria, 

 Tenerife, Palma) is darker and smaller ; A. o. abyssinicus (Abyssinia) 

 is much larger, browner, less grey on upper -parts and has more 

 prominent and broader cross-bars on under-parts ; A. o. wilsonian-us 

 (North America) is darker on upper -parts than A. o. otus, has more 

 narrowly barred tail and cross-bars on under-parts are broad and 

 prominent. Smaller size, freckled appearance of upper -parts and 

 cross-barring of under-parts as well as long " horns " distinguish 

 it from other medium-sized British Owls. 



Field -characters. — A woodland bird, especially partial to fir plan- 

 tations and small clumps of conifers . Owing to its nocturnal habits, 

 is seldom seen by day, unless encountered by chance as it stands, 

 with much attenuated body, close to trunk of the tree in which 

 it is resting. Its smaller size, ear -tufts, and yellow iris distinguish 

 it at once from the Tawny Owl. Flight, noiseless and wavering. 

 A low, long-drawn and continuous " oo-oo-oo," a cooing moan 

 rather than a hoot, is uttered in the early months of the year, and 

 the male, in flight, smites the wings together beneath his body with 

 a loud " bock." When the nesting-place is invaded, the birds 

 cry continually " oo-ack, oo-ack," prefaced sometimes by a barking 

 " woof -woof ." Discordant hunger-cry of young resembles noise 

 of a gate swinging on unoiled hinges. 



Breeding -habits. — Haunts woodlands and plantations where 

 there are conifers. Breeds in old squirrels' dreys or nests of 

 Magpie (sometimes taking possession of a new one), Wood-Pigeon, 

 vol. n. G 2 



