(COMMON BARN-OWL.)
+Strix flammea+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 116; _Durnford, Ibis_,
1877, p. 187 (Buenos Ayres); _White, P. Z. S._ 1882, p. 622
(Misiones); _Withington, Ibis_, 1888, p. 468 (Lomas de Zamora);
_Sharpe, Cat. B._ ii. p. 291. +Aluco flammeus+, _Barrows, Auk_,
1884, p. 29 (Entrerios). +Strix perlata+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_,
ii. p. 440; _Döring, Exp. al Rio Negro_, p. 49.
_Description._--Above orange-brown, marbled with ashy and white, and
dotted with black spots with central white points; wings and tail
crossed by four or five blackish bands; face silvery white, with a
posterior and inferior border of orange-brown and black: beneath
white, more or less suffused with tawny, except on the lower belly,
and dotted with distinct rounded black spots; bill yellowish; tarsus
feathered; toes slightly bristled; claws long and sharp: whole
length 15·0 inches, wing 12·5, tail 5·0. _Female_ similar.
_Hab._ Old and New Worlds.
This widely distributed species is found throughout South America; and
in its habits and sepulchral voice, as well as in its pretty reddish
buff, grey, and white plumage, is identical with the European bird.
D'Orbigny expressed astonishment that this Owl, which is never seen in
uninhabited places, invariably appears to keep company with man wherever
a settlement is formed, even in the most lonely and isolated spots.
Probably it is much more numerous than most people imagine, sheltering
itself everywhere in caverns and hollow trees, so that it is always
present, and ready to take early advantage of the commodious
church-tower or other large building raised by man. On the level pampas,
where there are no hills or suitable hiding-places, it is rarely seen:
it is exclusively a town bird.
Nothing more need be said of the habits of a species so well known, and
about which there is so much recorded in general works of Natural
History.
Fam. XXXI. BUBONIDÆ, or OWLS.