THE OWLS. 



TUB BARN OWI-. 



The third family of the Order of Accijritres now demands our attention ; the Strigidce, 

 or owls. Some of these are diurnal, and other nocturnal birds. 



Evening is indeed a time which it hccomcs the naturalist to improve, as well as the 

 hours preceding its arrival. Gilbert White, so deeply interested in natural objects, gives 

 peculiar prominence to the feathered tribes, as he says : — 



" When day declininf; shods a milder gleam, 

 What thiie the May-fly liaunts the pool or stream ; 

 When the still owl skims round the grassy mead, 

 What time the timorous hare limps fortli to feed ; 

 Tlien be the time to steal a<lown the dale, 

 And listim to the vagrant euekoo's tale ; 

 To hear the elamorous eui'lew eall his mate, 

 Or the soft quail his tender pain relate ; 

 To sec the swallow sweep the darkening plain, 

 Belated, to support her infant train ; 



