“Size of the Barn Owl; length sixteen inches and a half; bill yellow;
the plumage on the upper parts of the bird is brown, banded with
yellowish; throat and breast pale brown, crossed with whitish bands;
belly yellowish white, marked with longish red brown streaks; thighs
and legs woolly, whitish or very pale in color, varied with small
blackish spots; quills and tail feathers brown, crossed with four or
five white bands.
“I met with this specimen in the collection of Mr. Humphries, said to
have come from several miles within _South_ Georgia, in America.”
(Latham, General Synopsis of Birds, Supplement II., p. 64.)
This bird is placed by Latham, in his division of Owls, “with smooth
heads,” and probably refers to the Short-eared Owl (_Otus brachyotus_).
The description is not, however, entirely applicable. This name may,
however, be entitled to precedence as the proper name of that species in
the genus _Brachyotus_; and, as an aspirant to such honors, we recommend
it to the favorable notice of enterprising ornithologists; and also,
while our hand is in, respectfully suggest that as a name for the allied
European species, _arctica_, Sparrmann, which dates 1789 (Mus. Carls.,
pl. 51), might do as well as _palustris_, and have the advantage of more
mature age.