328 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OP BIRDS. 
evidently intervenes between the A. Virginiana and the 
Nyctia Candida. It is, in fact, so closely connected to the 
latter, that, but for its egrets, both would stand in the 
same genus : the fa- 
cial disk has now al- 
mostdisappeared ; the 
head is not much 
bigger, in propor- 
tion, than that of a 
falcon of the same 
dimensions; and the 
ears are very small. Like the great cinereous owl, which 
it seems to represent, its tail, although not much gra- 
duated, is longer than usual. Last of all come the 
little Scops owls, a diminutive group in point of size, 
but of which there are many species. We are disposed 
to believe that these may form a subgenus of them- 
selves ; although we cannot at present detect any very 
prominent character by which they are separated from 
their congeners. They seem to differ, indeed, from the 
great-horned owls above mentioned by the superior 
length of their legs, and by the nakedness of their toes. 
From the hornless passerine owls of Europe {S. Teng- 
malmi, &c.), which they seem to represent, they are at 
once known by the diminished size of their ears, and 
by their egrets ; while, from the corresponding group in 
South America (JVyetipetes'), they are immediately re- 
cognised by the last of these characters. For the pre- 
sent, therefore, we may retain the group until the whole 
genus is properly analysed. Several species, apparently 
belonging to the subgenus Scops, are found in South 
America, and one in Western Africa. For the other horned 
owls we can only refer the reader to their published 
figures. One of the most remarkably horned species is 
the Asip supercilma ; and there are several from India 
which have the tarsi or legs nearly naked. 
(26'3.) VFe now come to the aberrant group, com- 
posed, as usual, of three divisions, which we shall view 
as genera. Hitherto the owls of which we have spoken, 
