ACCIPITRES. 



175 



which is exceeded in size only by others of this genus. It is litlle less than the Golden Eagle, and very destruc- 

 tive to Grouse, Hares, and even Fawns : inhabits the mountainous parts of Europe, and is seldom seen in 

 Britain.] Add 



The American Bubow [Sir. virginiana, Daud.)— [Smaller than the preceding, with the grey colour predominating 

 over the fulvous : the Arctic Eagle-owl of the Fauna Ame.ricana-borealis appears to be only a semi-albino variety. 

 Another species is 



The Small-tufted Bubow (Str. ascalaphus, Savigny), inadvertently placed by the author in his division Otus. It 

 is proper to Asia and Africa, and is occasionally met with in the south-east of Europe. There are several more, 

 certain of which appear to compose the Iluhua and Urrhwi of Hodgson.] 



Other species occur, in which the aigrettes, widei apart and placed further backward, are elevated 

 with less facility above the horizontal line. Species occur in both continents ; as 



Str. griseata, Shaw, from Guiana; and Str. strepitans, 

 Tern., from Batavia. 



Noctua*, Savigny. 



Neither tufts, nor an open and deeply set conch to 

 the ear ; the aperture of which is oval, and scarcely 

 longer than in other Birds : the disk of fringed fea- 

 thers is smaller and even less complete than in the 

 Bubows. Their relations to the diurnal Birds of 

 prey are evident, even in their habits, [but not in 

 their internal conformation]. 



Some are remarkable for a long cuneiform tail, 

 and have their toes densely feathered. They are 



The Surns (Surnia, Dumeril) — 



The Rayed Sum (Str.nixoria, Wolf; Str. funerea, Lin.). 

 —This, the best-known species, from the north of the 

 whole globe, is about the size of the Sparrow-hawk. It 

 hunts more during the day than the night. 

 The species of the Uralian mountains (Str. uralentit, 

 Pallas), is nearly as large as the Harfang. It also hunts during the day, and is sometimes seen in Germany. It 

 is probably the HybrU or Ptynx of Aristotle. f 



There is a species termed Arcadian (Str. acadiea, Naum), but which belongs to the whole north of the Globe [?] 

 It is the smallest of its tribe, being hardly larger than a Sparrow. It does not avoid the light of day; but Le Vail- 

 lant has made known another, from Africa (le Ckoucou, No. xxxviii.), which, according to his account, is very 

 nocturnal. [The former is the Str. paaerina of Linnaeus, but not of British authors, and the Str. acadiea of 

 Temminck, but not of Gmelin ; it is referable to the Glaucidium of Boie, 

 and is not found in America: the Str. acadiea, Gm., is peculiar to 

 America, and pertains to a very different subdivision, Xi/ctale of Brehm, 

 the members of which are considerably more nocturnal in their habits 

 and adaptments. To the latter group the Choucou of Le Vaillant 

 should also probably be referred. Ninox of Hodgson seems to be iden- 

 tical with Glaucidium.] 



Others have the tail short, and the toes densely feathered : 

 the largest of which, and also the largest night-bird without 

 head-tufts, is 



The Harfang [Str. wyctea, Lin.), or Great Snout/ Out, which almost 

 equals the European Bubow in its dimensions. It inhabits the north 

 of both continents, nestles on elevated rocks, and preys on Hares, Ca- 

 percalzies, and Ptarmigan. [This bird forms another very distinct 

 division, and is most nearly allied to the Bubovrs: like them, h does 

 possess head-tufts, which however are small and inconspicuous, though 

 we have seen the bird erect them ; its plumage is remarkably firm. 

 The term Nyctea, Swainson, has been generically applied to it, with the 

 specific appellation Candida.] 



Fig. 83.— Howlet's Ear. 



Fig. SI. — Sternum of Marfan?. 



• This term is falling into disuse, from its bavin? been prevtouely 

 bestowed on a group of insects: it is moreover far from being feU- 



dtous, as applied to ttic most diurnal of tile Owls. — F.D. 



t The Prince of Musi k 'iiaiio places this remarkable bird in Sfrntum. 

 i have never seen a specimen, but — to judge from Mr. GonleVe *igure 



of it, In the liirdt n/ F.urnpr, — should he disposed to elevate it to the 

 rank of a separate division (PfjrJI#)j its Urge ami complete ruff distin- 

 guishes it from Sitrtii'i, as its ecclpltrlni form and lengthened tail uo 



from Syritium or Vhtltl. — Ku. 



