ATHENE WOODFORDI.
but when a single feather is examined, white is found to be the predominant
colour, while the pale reddish exists only as a broad bar at the tip of each
feather : behind the tips the feathers are crossed by several narrow umber-
brown lines; sides of abdomen and vent partly white and partly pale
buff-orange, the feathers being crossed by several narrow umber-brown
bars. Legs and tarsi sienna-yellow, variegated with short umber-brown
bars. Tail dull reddish brown, with seven or eight pale yellowish
brown bars, the last bar forming the tip of each feather. Bill deep straw-
yellow, greenish at the point. Eyes a deep and bright yellow. Toes dull
yellow; claws wood-brown at base, elsewhere livid umber-brown.
F orm, &c.—Head rather small; facial disc distinct; cervical collar moderately
developed and continuous, its feathers decomposed; the feathers coating
the sides of the bill long and wiry. The wings, when folded, reach some dis-
tance'beyond the commencement of the last third of the tail; the fourth quill-
feather the longest, the third slightly shorter, the second and fifth equal and
shorter than the third, the first rather shorter than the second. The tip of
the tail slightly rounded. Bill compressed towards tip and strongly hooked ;
nostrils large, open, and nearly circular. Tarsi covered with soft downy
feathers ; toes coated with small, somewhat granular scales ; claws slender,
moderately long, much arched, and pointed.
DIMENSIONS.
Length from the point of the bill to the
Length of the bill to the angle of the
mouth....................
wings when folded......
ta il.............................
In. Iin. ■ In. Lin.
Length of the tarsi ...__ ............... 1 9
13 6 outer toe- . ............... 0 ’ fmiddle
female, but the colours are rather brighter.
toe . .. ............ 0 10|
1 inner toe . ....... ........ 0 91
9 0 hinder toe . ................ 0 3
6 0
are near Iy the same in form as those of the
This owl occurs in various parts of the colony, and is generally discovered about the outskirts
of forests. It is by no means a common bird in South Africa, and specimens of it are but rarely
procured. It feeds upon small quadrupeds, birds, large insects, &c.