from Colesberg, and Mr. Atmore procured it at Blanco. Dr.
Atberstone also has it from the Fish River. Mr. Ayres has recorded
a specimen from the interior of Natal, and says :—“ I observed this
fine Owl sparsely scattered along the banks of the Limpopo during
a recent journey through that district,” and the late Mr. Andersson
gives the following note :—“ This is the largest Owl found in Dam-
ara Land. It is of not unfrequent occurrence from the Okavango
River northward, to the Cape Colony in the south, and it is also
met with in the Lake regions.” Senor Anchieta has pi’ocured it at
'Q u i l l e n g u e s and Caconda in Benguela.
Mr. Atmore has sent us the following account of its habits :—
“ Meiring’s Poort, June 19th, 1863.—I have at last obtained the
large Owl described to be as ‘big as a vulture.’ I send him
herewith. Eyes black, with a narrow brick-red ring round the iris.
He is very destructive to poultry, and judging from the capacity of
its swallow, could take down a chicken at a gulp. ■ The throat is of
a peculiar construction, and I now regret I did not send it to you in
spirits. The fat all round it was half an inch thick. His call-note
is often mistaken for that of a leopard. One killed a dikkop (ZEdic-
nemus maculosusJ and left his skeleton close to the house, so it
appears he victimises them as well as poiiltry. He throws up no
quids.”
Mr. Jackson corroborates Mr. Atmore’s statement of its being
destructive to poultry. He had many hens sitting in boxes in a
building with high walls, and closed doors, secure from every prowler
but a winged one; but the window in the roof being left open,
each night a hen disappeared. Mr. Jackson set a wire snare over
each box, and soon had the satisfaction of noosing the robber, who,
even with the wire round his leg, would not let go his prey, and was
killed “ red-handed.”
Mr. Ayres writes :—“ About sunrise individuals may be heard
making a low hooting ‘ goo, goo/ repeated at intervals. The stomach
of‘ the specimen sent from the Limpopo contained the remains of a
Guinea - fowl, Numida coronata, a species- which is exceedingly
plentiful all along the Limpopo, and roosts at night on the trees by
the side of the river.” Mr. Andersson states that its food consists
of mice and other small quadrupeds, birds, lizards, and large beetles.
Mr. T. E. Buckley observes :—2 This fine Owl is very common
from the Transvaal as far as the Matabili land, haunting the sides
of rivers, away from which localities I never saw it. These Owls
generally go in pairs, but I once saw five together, out of which I
procured my specimen; after the first disturbance they get more
wary. I fancy they breed in old nests of other birds as I once saw
an Owl sitting in one.”
The following note is given by Dr. Kirk “ The habits of this
bird resemble those of ScotojpcVia jpcl'i. It is much more common,
being rather plentiful among the mountains, and not unfrequently
met with in the Zambesi and particularly the river Shire valley.”
Dr. Dickerson also procured examples at Magomero and Ohibisa in
the Zambesi country, and gives the iris as “ dark russet brown.”
General colour above and below brownish-grey, minutely variegated
throughout. A white mark extends from the shoulder half-way down
the back, and several white blotches appear on the wing-coverts. The
facial disk is lightish grey; a semicircle of black extends from each
horn, under the chin, but they do not unite by several inches. The
horns are dark rusty-brown. The stiff hairs, which project along the
bill, are black along their shafts and at the tips. Cere, blueish grey;
bill, pale ash-colour; iris, very dark hazel; eyelid, a conspicuous
pink. Length, 26"; wing, 18J"; tail, 11; tarsus, 3 inches.
Fig. Temm. PI. Col. ii, pi. 4.
67. B ubo maculosus. Spotted Eagle Owl.
This is the commonest Owl in South Africa, and is found throughout
the colony. Yictorin procured it at the Knysna, in June and
November, and Mr. Rickard informs us that it is plentiful both at
East London and at Port Elizabeth. Mr. Ayres, has collected it in
Natal, where also Mr. R. S. Fellows shot it, on the Tugela River. Mr.
Ayres has found it breeding in the Transvaal. Dr. Dickerson procured
it in the Zambesi country. Mr Andersson observes :—fr This Owl is
sparingly met with in Damara and Great Namaqua Land,” and
Senor Anchieta has procured it at Humbe on the river Cun£nA
Mr. Monteiro says it is abundant about Benguela, and Anchieta met
with it at Huilla and Caconda.
It frequents forests, open lands, bush-covered or cultivated places
indiscriminately. We think it is subject to partial migrations, as on
several occasions we have, while hunting for game, come upon little
Parties of eight or ten individuals, which kept together in their flight,
ointer-dogs will stand to them as staunchly as to game. Our late