174 



AVES. 



Fig. 81.— Sternum of Barn Owl. 



IIowlets (Ulula, Cuv.) 



To the species which have the beak and ear of the Hiboux, [the latter, however, less developed 

 (see fig. 83)], but not the tufts. They are to be found in the north of both continents : for example, 



The Cinereous Howlet (Sir. lapponica, Gm.). — Almost as large as our Bubow. It inhabits the mountains of the 

 north of Sweden, [and Arctic America]. 

 The Barred Howlet (Str. nebulosa, Gm.).— [A common bird of North America, very rare in Europe.] 



The Restricted Owls (Strix, Savigny) — 



Have ears as large as in the Hiboux [but of a very different form], and furnished with a still larger 

 operculum ; but their elongated beak is only bent towards the end, while in all the other subgenera it 



curves from the point. They have no head-tufts ; their tarsi are 

 feathered [and rather long], but they have hairs only upon the toes : 

 [their middle claw is obtusely serrated : their sternum (fig. 81), 

 shorter than in the others, has its inner notch very slight, and often 

 obliterated.] The mask, formed by the fringed feathers that surround 

 the eyes, is greatly extended, which renders their physiognomy more 

 extraordinary than that of any other night-bird. The species common 

 in France, 



The Barn Owl (Strix flammea, Lin., fig. 82), appears to be diffused over the 

 whole globe, [or rather, there are numerous species more or less distinguish- 

 able]. It builds in steeples, towers, &c. [and in places distant from the abode 

 of Man, where no hollow trees occur, in the burrows of quadrupeds. When 

 nestling in pigeon-houses, it offers no molestation to the other inhabitants. 

 Its manner of propagation is remarkable ; as it produces three or four suc- 

 cessive broods, two or more of which, of different ages, commonly occur in 

 the same nest : the young remaining much longer in the nest than those be- 

 longing to the other divisions, from which they differ in developing a firmer 

 nestling plumage, similar to the adult garb, and which (as in the Hawks) is 



not shed before the second autumn. This curious and 



handsome bird is naturally familiar, and eminently worthy 



of protection ; as it preys solely on small quadrupeds and 



insects.] 



Syrxium, Savigny. 



The disk and collar of the preceding ; but the conch 

 (fig. 83) reduced to an oval cavity, that does not ex- 

 tend to half the height of the skull ; they have no 

 head -tufts, but their feet are feathered to the talons. 

 [Notwithstanding the authority of Cuvier, it is proper 

 to remark, that there is no appreciable difference be- 

 tween this and Ulula, — certainly none of generical 

 importance. The Bulaca of Hodgson appears also 

 to be synonymous.] 



The Tawny Howlet {Strix aluco and striduta, Lin.). — A 

 common European bird, which nestles in the woods, or 

 frequently lays its eggs in the [deserted] nests of other 

 Birds, [though more commonly (if not always) in the hol- 

 lows of trees, where it abides by day. It is the species so 

 well known for its sonorous hootings. The young are clad 

 at an early age with downy feathers, which are succeeded 

 by the adult plumage previous to their first winter. Their 

 parents often feed them with fish.] 



The Bubows {Bubo, Cuv.) — 

 Are species which, with as small a conch, and the *■&■ 82.— Barn owl. 



disk of feathers less marked than in the preceding, possess head-tufts. The known species have great 

 feet, feathered to the talons. [They differ from the Hiboux only in their superior size, and the small- 

 ness of the auditory aperture.] Such is 

 The European Bubow {Str. bubo, Lin.), or the G~eat-horued or Eagle-owl.— The largest of nocturnal Birds [or 



