in Griqualand in May, 1871, while Dr. Bxton fell in with it near
Kanye, and Mr. T. B. Buckley says it is common from the north of
Pretoria into the Matabili country. The Lisbon Museum contains a
specimen from the Transvaal, forwarded by B. Vanzeller, and Mr.
Ayres in his list of birds from the above locality, writes as follows :
—“ This little owl is tolerably common along most of the rivers in
the Bush, and especially on the banks of the Limpopo.” According
to Mr. Andersson it is the “ commonest Owl in Darnara Land, Great
Namaqua Land, and Ovampo Land,” and Senor Anchieta has met
with it at Quillengues in Benguela as well as at Ambaca in Angola
proper.
For the following notes on the habits of the present species we are
indebted to Dr. Exton:—“ The stomach and bill of one showed that it
had been eating a specimen of Proteba, melba, others contained only
coleoptera. They hunt by day, and I saw one in the middle of the
forenoon dart on a gryllus, which he still held firmly when I shot him.
In the midday heat its favourite position seems to be a perch on a
thick branch in the shade of the stem of the tree, and should it be
detected by the smaller birds it is treated with the same insult and
its presence as loudly protested against as is the common Bubo ma-
culosus when he makes his appearance in the day time.”
General colour above a warm brown approaching to rufous on the
head, and with a rufous and white collar round the neck. The upper
partsj are throughout spotted, with white, the spots being smallest
and most numerous on the head. Wings with six rows of white
spots. Tail greatly exceeding the wings, brown, crossed by seven
imperfect rows of spots more or less large. Under parts, except the
rufous collar, white, longitudinally striped with dark brown. Eyebrows
and sides of chin white. Legs covered to the toes, which are
hairy, with brown and white hair-like feathers. Iris yellow.
Length, 1" &" ; wing, 4°; tail, 3" 3"',
Fig. Temm. PI. Col. ii, pi. 34,
73. Asio c a pe n s is , African Short-eared Owl.
Otus capensis, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 43. (1867.)
This Owl is only found in marshy places, and is usually gregarious.
It conceals itself during the day amongst long grass, or reeds, &c., and
preys upon water-insects, mice, and lizards. Dr. Smith gives no loca-
Plate IE.
CARINE CAPENSIS