Ordo RaAprores.
Fam. STRIGID 2.

Genus Noctua, Cuv.

TAB, FV.
NOCTUA CUCULOIDES.

Noct. brunneo-fusca ; capite, dorso, tectricibus alarum, corporeque subtus albo graciliter fasciatis ;
remigibus externé albo maculatis ; rectricibus utrinque fasciis albis quinque notatis ; gula

AN

alba.

Longitudo corporis, 9+ unc.; ale, 5+; caude, 34; tarsi, 14.

Tuis small Ow/, which is here placed among that division of the family to which M. Cuvier has applied the
title of Noctua, is the only example of the species that has as yet come under our observation. There is
an African species figured in the splendid Work of M. Temminck *, which closely resembles it both in size and
the general character of its plumage; the colour of the upper surface, however, is more rufous, and the
transverse bars less numerous and more obscure, being whiter with large irregular spots of deep chestnut,
and assuming the figure of regular bars on the side of the chest. The present species may be observed
to be more uniform in its plumage, being brown above and below with distinct narrow lines of yellowish white,
and exhibiting the style of colouring of the immature Cuckoo, whence its specific name of cuculoides. It
appears to be strictly confined to the range of the Himalayan Mountains, having never been brought to
Europe, so far as is known, from any other part of India.

In size, the Noctua cuculoides closely approximates to the Passerine Owl of Europe, to which we should
expect it to be allied in habits and manners.

* Chouette Brame, Pl. Col. 68.

 

nena ET ae TET