Genus STRIX.

Gren. Cuar. Beak straight at the base, the tip arched, and hooked; cutting margin of
the upper er Cony straight; under mandible sloping to the point, and doubly
notched. ee oval, obliquely placed on the anterior ridge of the cere ; facial disk large,
complete. Wings long and ample; the second quill-feather the longest in the wing, the
first but little shorter, equal to the third, and slightly notched on its inner web near the
tip. Legs with tarsi long and slender, clothed with downy feathers; toes thinly covered

with hairs ; claws long, sharp, moderately curved, and all more or less grooved beneath.

BARN OWL.

Strix flammea, Lanz.

La Chouette effraie.

Wuerner our well-known Barn Owl be identical with those found in almost every portion of the globe,

 

notwithstanding their slight variations or differences of plumage, we have not been able satisfactorily to

 

determine ; and it vet remains a question whether the Owls so nearly resembling the present, from the United
States, South America and its adjacent islands, together with others from Africa, India and New Holland, be
merely varieties depending upon climate, food and a combination of circumstances, or, on the contrary, radically
distinct, each constituting a different species.

The genus Sziv as limited by modern authors, and taking this bird as its type, possesses, besides the
varieties above alluded to, many which must certainly be considered as truly distinct species. Of these we
have seen several from New Holland, one from India, and one from the West Indian Islands. It is a genus

at once distinguished from all other genera of the family of Strigide by the elongated bill, the loose and

 

downy texture of the plumage, and by the beautiful style of colouring which pervades the upper surface of the
body.

The Strix flammec is spread over the whole of Europe, and appears to be everywhere stationary, at least
such is the case in our own island, where they inhabit barns, ruins, church-towers and hollow trees, remaining

concealed all day, but issuing at the approach of evening, when they prowl, on light and noiseless wing, in

 

search of their prey, night being the time when the species of this genus exert their powers and display their
destructive energies. Dazzled by the light of day, for which their powers of vision are not adapted, they

 

remain motionless and inanimate in their retreats, shading their eyes with the thin membranous veil which
they possess for the purpose of drawing over the pupils. To observe them in this state, we should not
suppose them endowed with that energy and quickness of action which they display at night, when, intent
upon their search, they skim over the meadows with every sense alive to the object of their pursuit: so
rapidly, indeed, do they pounce upon their victims, that even the little active mouse is seized before aware
of its approaching fate. Although mice form the principal part of their subsistence, it is nevertheless
certain that they sometimes prey upon youns birds, rats and leverets ; and instances have been known of their
committing depredations among the finned inhabitants of lakes and ponds. L.

In the plumage of these interesting birds there exists considerable variety, some individuals being fawn-
coloured on the upper and under surface, spotted and dashed with dark grey, while others are purely white

on the under surface; and others again white on the same part, with minute spots of grey. So far as we

have been able to judge from dissection, the individuals
ly adult males, the females and young males having the breast more or

killed in this country with pure white breasts, as

represented +n the Plate, are invariab
less speckled, and the edge of the facial disk tinged with fawn colour.
The Straw flammea incubates in holes of trees, old buildings, and similar situations, generally laying three

 

or four nearly round white eggs.

The young, for a considerable period, are covered with
armel or castings, consisting of the indigestible parts of their food.

a thick coating of white down, and their retreat is

always found to contain vast quantities of pellets
The Plate represents an adult male of the natural size.

 

wi
}

 

ee

To. WV