268 
NOCTUA. 
of the toes. The length will run from thirteen 
and a-half inches and fourteen inches. The form 
of this species is strong and compact, wings ample, 
but not long ; feet and tarsi muscular ; the plumage 
full, and very soft and downy. 
The genus Noctua of Savigny, which composes 
the next very intricate group, forms Mr Swain- 
son’s third type of the true Strigince, and what 
that gentleman considers will prove the tenui- 
rostral form ; he proposes for it the title of 
Scotopkilus, rejecting Noctua altogether as applied 
to a group of the lepidoptera. 
We have taken Slrix Tengmalmi of Gmel. 
Noctua Tengmalmi , Selby, as typical of this, 
retaining the old title, and have derived our generic 
characters from it ; the other British bird, gene- 
rally referred to the same genus, seems to differ 
in some points, which we shall notice immediately. 
