THE SCOPS -OWL. 89 



grey and black-brown, these bars being better defined on outer 

 feathers which are less vermiculated than central ones ; wing- 

 feathers, tips and outer webs brownish-grey finely vermiculated 

 dark brown, outer webs of outer 6 primaries with wide bars of white 

 tinged huffish near shaft, rest of primaries and secondaries with 

 these bars more grey or buff and obscured by vermiculations, basal 

 three-fourths of wing -feathers dark brown with dull white to buffish 

 bars usually much obscured or obsolete towards shaft of feathers, 

 innermost secondaries like rest of upper -parts ; greater and median 

 wing-coverts as rest of upper -parts, but some outer feathers with 

 more or less conspicuous white or whitish oval patches on outer 

 webs ; lesser coverts rufous with fewer vermiculations especially 

 along edge of wing. No autumn moulting specimens have been 

 available for examination. Summer. — Specimens from Africa in 

 Jan -Feb. are moulting body, wings and tail, but as this is nearly 

 complete in Jan. it may not represent a second moult. N.B. — There 

 is considerable individual variation from grey to rufous and in 

 oonspicuousness of white markings and in a large series there is no 

 difference in males and females in this respect. 



Nestling. — Down white, fairly short, soft and plentiful, 

 covering whole body and tarsi to base of toes. 



Juvenile. — Feathers much more compact than in juveniles 

 of other British Owls and not down-like except at base of neck and 

 on vent, tibia, lower flanks and under tail-coverts, latter feathers 

 are buff or grey, widely barred brown, rest of plumage much like 

 adult but vermiculations and shaft -streaks paler brown and much 

 less accentuated. 



First winter and summer. — Apparently like adults but no 

 specimens in moult have been available for examination. 



Measurements and structure. — (J wing 147-161 mm., tail 63-70, 

 tarsus 25-30, bill from base of feathers 17-18.5 (12 measured). 

 $ wing 148-161 (one 166). Primaries : 3rd longest, 2nd equal or 

 1-3 mm. shorter, 1st 13-18 shorter, 4th 2-5 shorter, 5th 11-16 

 shorter ; 2nd and 3rd slightly emarginated outer webs, 1st with 

 very short serrations on outer edge of outer web. Outer secondaries 

 rather shorter than 10th primary, rest becoming longer and longest 

 about equal to 7th primary, tips rounded. Tail nearly square 

 but outermost feathers rather shorter than rest, 12 feathers, tips 

 slightly rounded. Under tail-coverts about three-fourths as long 

 as tail. Tarsus covered with feathers, toes bare. Shortest toe 

 directed backwards, 2nd and 3rd long and directed forwards, 4th 

 shorter and directed outwards and backwards, claws long, strong 

 and very sharp. Bill short, strong and much compressed, upper 

 mandible curved and projecting at tip, which is sharp, lower 

 mandible broader and shorter with rounded tip. Nostrils rounded 

 and covered by bristle-like feathers of disk. 



Soft parts. — Bill bluish -black ; feet grey; iris lemon -yellow . 



