the inner vanes pale cream-yellow, both crossed with four brown bars ; the
outer vanes of the two outermost scinna-yellow, inner vanes white, both with
four imperfect brown bars ; the points of all the feathers slightly speckled
with white ; bill and toes livid straw-yellow; eyes brownish black ; claws a
dark horn colour. The whole of the plumage has a slight silky gloss.
F orm, &c.—Typical. Bill strongly hooked and pointed. Facial disc
rather large, the feathers rigid and wiry, those in front of the eyes directed
forwards and covering the base of the bill; cervical collar strongly marked,
the feathers compact, erect, and arranged in several rows, their points
slightly rounded ; wings large, and when folded reach about an inch and a
half beyond the point of the ta il; the second quill feather the longest, the
first and third slightly shorter, the fourth considerably shorter ; tail small and
square at the point; legs long; upper half of tarsi covered with feathers,
lower half and toes covered with small flat circular scales, upon which are
scattered a few strong rigid bristles ; the last joint of toes with two or three
transverse plates superiorly ; claws long, slightly curved and pointed.
DIMENSIONS.
Length from the point of the bill to
Inches. Liies.
Length of the tarsus ...........
Inches.
a 3
the tip of the tail.......... 16 0 of the outer toe .... Hi ........ i
of the bill from the gape...... ] 6 of the middle toe....... ........ i
of the wings when folded ... 12 8 of the inner toe ......... ........ i
of the tail 5 3 of the hinder toe........ ........ 0 ■7.1
The female is considerably larger than the male, and the colours are not so
clear. The down with which the young bird is clothed is a dull cream-yellow,
and the plumage of the upper parts during the first year is darker than in
adult birds.
The few specimens of this species which I have seen were obtained near Cape Town, close
to Table Mountain, in the rocky precipices of which they were said to have concealed themselves
during the day. The colonists recognise this bird as distinct from what they call the
Doodvogel, ( S t r i x flam mea , Lin.) which occurs abundantly throughout the whole of South Africa.
By its size we at once distinguish it from S t r i x bacHa, Horsfield, the species to which it is by
colours most nearly allied.