54 ACCII'ITRES. 



SUB-ORDER IT. 



accipitres noctueni. 



Nocturnal Birds of Prey 



TJtis suh-()rde7' comj.iri^c.'^ hut one Fa mil i/. 

 Strigid.e. Thfi Owls. 



Gen. Charac. — Bill short, with the sides compressed, and the base concealed 

 by projecting bristles; culmen much arched to the tip, which is hooked; 

 wings usually moderate and rounded ; tail broad and of various length ; tarsi 

 generally short and feathered to the toes ; toes usually short, and either 

 clothed with plumes or slightly covered with hairs ; claws long, and very 

 acute; eyes large and encompassed with a radiated circle of slender hairy 

 feathers forming a facial disk. 



The plumage of tlie Owls is peculiarly soft and 

 downy, rendering tlieir flight perfectly noiseless, 

 so that they steal unperceived upon their prey. 

 Their- eyes, which are of large size, as though to 

 receive every ray of light that may be available for 

 vision, look directly forwards. In a strong light 

 their sight is very imperfect, so that they stand in a 

 state of complete bewilderment, staring in a most 

 ludicrous manner at any object presented to them, 

 and taking every opportunity of concealing them- 

 selves in some obscure corner. The ears are more 

 conspicuous than those of any other birds, and are 

 usually furnished with a sort of lid. The head is 

 large, and there is no ridge over the eyes, as in the 

 Falconidaa. The feathers of the face project more 

 or less forwards, and conceal the cere at the base 

 of the bill. The outer toe is reversible, and capable 

 of being turned backwards like that of a parrot. 

 These birds are recluse in their habits, living in 

 pairs in the holes of trees, or in old buildings and 

 other retired places, where they hide during the day- 

 time ; but in the evening issue forth to seek their 

 prey, which consists principally of small quadrupeds 

 and birds. The smaller Owls frequently catch such 



