the scientific name of the genuscontaining the New Zealand bird called the Laughing Owl(see under Jackass). The name was given by Kaup in1848; the bird had been previously classed as Athene byGray in 1844. It is now nearly extinct. Kaup also gave thename of Spiloglaux to the New Zealand Owl at the samedate. The words are from the Greek glaux, an owl, spilos, a spot, and skelos, a leg.