both in August before the rains and in March in the spring. All
three were inhabitants of the river Shire valley, one at the confluence,
the others near the Murchison Rapids. The food of this
Owl is said by the natives to be small animals and snakes.”
The Rev. H. Waller, who obtained this species in the Zambesi
district, informed Mr. Gurney that it feeds on wild Guinea fowls
which it captures whilst roosting. In West Africa it has been
observed to feed on fish.
The following description is from a Zambesi specimen in the
British Museum, and is copied from the editor’s “ Catalogue of
Birds.”
Adult.—Above deep rufous bay, crossed with numerous irregular
bars of black, fainter on the head, which is more fulvescent; wing-
coverts and entire wing bay, barred with black, exactly like the
back, the under surface of the wing rufous and barred exactly like
the upper surface; tail rufous fawn-colour, rather lighter than back,
banded across with black; under surface of body light bay, with
distinct cordiform bars of black, somewhat irregular in shape; under
wing-coverts rufous bay with a few black spots and bars, more
distinct on the lower series, which- are lighter and resemble the
inner lining of the wing; cere blueish lead-colour; bill similar to
Cere but darker, excepting towards tip ; tarsi dirty white, tinged
with blueish pink; talons light horn-colour with a tinge of dull
blue; iris extremely dark brown. Total length, 23'5 inches; culmen,
2-7; wing, 16'5; tail, 10‘0; tarsus, 2'7.
Fig. Gurney, Ibis, 1859, pi. 15.
65. B ubo ca pen s is . Cape Eagle Owl.
Its food consists of moles, rats, and small birds. Le Vaillant says
it makes a nest in a rocky locality, of branches, dried leaves, and
moss: eggs three.
We shot a specimen on the Cape Flats in the day-time on the
25th May, 1855; it appeared to see perfectly well. Since we made
this old note in 1855, we have only obtained one other specimen;
the species must, therefore, be rare. The example alluded to above
was shot in broad daylight in the bright sun, and gave us a long
chase, after being wounded at the first shot. He rose out of some
rushes in the first instance, and then perched in several different
places, but always keeping us well in view, and flying off on our
approach. Two eggs were lately given to us as the “ eggs of the
large owl,” and probably belong to this bird: they were taken from
a nest in the rocky sides of the Winterhoek Pass, by Mr. Short, the
Superintendent of Convicts, to whom we are indebted for m a n y
good specimens. Eggs pure white, smooth, but not shining: axis,
2”; diam. 1" 9'” ; ends both alike rounded. Mr. Atmore says he
once took a nest at Bufflejaghts river in a mimosa tree containing
three eggs. The nest had been used (and probably constructed) by
a crow the previous year. The bird is common in the Karroo but
rare about George.
We took two eggs exactly agreeing with those given to us by Mr.
Short, from a nest on an exposed bank along a wet ditch running
by the side of a frequented road at the Berg river, on the 21st of
September, 1869; it was about two feet in diameter and composed of
soft dry flags and rushes; the hen bird sat very closely for several
days before we took the eggs and assimilated so closely with the
dead flags and rubbish on the bank that she was almost invisible.
Mr. Rickard writes us word that “ a very large owl with many rufous
markings was shot on the hills close to the town of Port Elizabeth
many years ago. I frequently saw it when stuffed and have but
little doubt of its being this species.”
Although confined to a limited district in South Africa, this Owl
occurs in Abyssinia, for Mr. Gurney (P. Z. S. 1871, p. 148) proclaims
that the type of B. dilloni is referable to the present bird.
General colour umber-brown, the under side being the lightest,
variegated with irregular spots of dark rufous on the head and
shoulders, and with bars and spots of deep orange on the rest of the
body. Wings umber-brown, much varied by pale buff bars of
irregular width; each bar is spotted, or speckled brown. Feathers of
tail yellowish-white, w£i h narrow dark bars. Legs and toes ochreous-
yellow; collar brown; spot on the breast white. Facial disk yellow- .
brown, with white wiry feathers near the beak. Length, 23'.'; wing,
16”; tail, 9” .
Fig. Smith, 111. Zool. S. Afr. pi. 70.
66. Bubo l a c t e u s . Verreaux’ Eagle Owl.
Several specimens of this noble Owl have come to us from our
correspondents. Mr. Jackson says it is not uncommon in the
fountains near his residence at Nel’s Poort. Mr. Arnot has sent it