150 



• Ceylon Ornithology. 



nostrils lateral, placed in the anterior part of the cere, and 

 hidden by the projecting plumes. Wings moderate, with the 

 third and fourth quills equal and longest. Tail short, and 

 nearly even at the end. Tarsi rather long, covered at the 

 base with down, and towards the tips with minute scales. 

 Toes moderate, strong, covered with small scales, except at 

 the tips which are furnished with three or four transverse 

 scales, the lateral toes unequal, the claws long, strong and 

 curved. 



5 UB-FAM : S YBNIINJE, or O WLETS . 



Genus. Syrnium. Sav. 



Bill moderate, strong, with the base broad, and concealed 

 by the frontal plumes ; the sides compressed, and the culmen 

 arched to the tip, which is hooked; the nostrils basal, lateral, 

 and medial, with the opening large and oval. Wings long 

 and rounded, with the fourth and fifth quills equal and longest. 

 Tail long, broad, and more or less rounded. Tarsi short, 

 strong, thick, and densely clothed with plumes. Toes mode- 

 rate, densely plumed to the end of each toe, the claws long, 

 acute, and slightly curved. 



SUB FA3£: STRIGINJE, or OWLS. 



Genus. Strix. Linn. 



Billlong, mostly concealed at the base by the projecting 

 plumes; the sides much compressed, and the culmen arched 

 to the tip, which is acute and hooked ; the nostrils large, 

 party covered by a membrane, with the opening oval, and 

 slightly hidden by the hairs. Wings very long, with the 

 second quill the longest, Tail short and generally even. 

 Tarsi much longer than the middle toe, slender and covered 

 with short soft plumes. Toes long, and covered with scattered 

 hairs; the lateral ones unequal, the outer much shorter than 

 the inner; the hind toe short and thick; the claivs long, 

 Carved and acute. 



