STRTGID.E. 



63 



SUB-FAMILY IV. 



Strigix^. 



The Owls 2)roj)er. 



Gex. Charac. — Head smooth, with the facial disk very large, subtriangulai 

 and complete. 





Uji^ 





''\...''^^^.V' 



FiS, 25. — THE BARN OWL. 



{Strix Jlammea.) 



IP W- 



The Owls belong'ino' to tliis sub-familv are dis- 

 tributed tbrougliout most climates. They are strictly- 

 nocturnal. The softness of their plumage and the 

 peculiar form of their quills give them a buoyant 

 and noiseless flighty which enables them to steal upon 

 their prey unsuspected. They live principally upon 

 mice and other small quadrupeds^ which they swallow 

 whole ; the hairs^ bones^ and other indigestible parts 

 l)eing subsequently disgorged in oval pellets. Some 

 species live on crustaceous animals. They build 

 their nests on old towers^ in the roofs of churches, 

 E 2 



