OTUS CAPENSIS.
blackish brown. Chin white; cervical collar dark brown, variegated where
it crosses the throat with small sienna-yellow spots. Egrets reddish brown,
vermiculated with sienna-yellow. Eyes blackish brown. Bill, toes, and
claws livid brownish black, or a deep horn-colour.
F orm, &c.—Figure moderately slender. Head small and rounded ; facial
disc small, convex, and ill-defined; the feathers of the disc rigid, wiry, and
decomposed, those at and below the inner canthus of the eye directed inwards
and forwards, so as to conceal the base of the bill; egrets short and delicate,
recumbent, except when the bird is excited. Bill arched from the base,
compressed, and the mandible slender towards the point, the hook of the
upper one long and slender; nostrils small and rounded; cervical collar
rigid, broad at the throat and narrow at its extremities, which are situated
some way behind and rather above the level of the eyes. Wings long, and
when folded reach to nearly the tip of the tail, the second and third quill-
feathers equal and longest, the fourth rather shorter, the first and fifth equal,
and about an inch and a quarter shorter than the second ; — all the feathers
are very broad. Tail rather short and slightly rounded. Tarsi long, and
densely covered with short silky feathers. Toes short, moderately strong,
and coated with small somewhat circular scales and scattered bristles.
Claws long, slender, and slightly curved.
DIMENSIONS.
from the point of the bill
Inches.
to
lines.
Length of the tarsus.................
Inches.
2 l£
the tip of the tail........... ... 15 0 of the outer toe............. ......... 0 7
of the bill from the gape .. 1 ~of the middle to e ........ ......... 0 1 2
of the wings when folded .. ... 1 1 0 of the inner toe............. ....... 0 9|
of the ta il....................... . 6 H of the hinder toe ......... ....... 0 Kl
The female is rather larger than the male: the colours are the same in both
sexes.
This is rather a rare bird in South Africa, and as far aS I know, has never been found but in
marshy situations. It passes the day among the rushes, reeds, or long grass, and five or six
individuals are sometimes found congregated together. When disturbed, they fly only a short
distance before they attempt to conceal themselves again, and it is not before they have been
several times f lu s h e d in succession that they seek safety in a prolonged flight. They feed
upon mice, lizards, and water insects.