BIRDS OF THE NIGHT 21 



the Owls, the number of the quill-feathers is equal 

 to that of birds of the most powerful wing, giving 

 them the greatest facilities for sustained and rapid 

 flight. Their noiseless movements are not attained 

 by any diminution of force. But the texture of the 

 feathers differs essentially from that of the plumage 

 of the Falcons and of most other birds. It is of 

 the downiest softness, and the fibres of the wing- 

 webs being of unequal length, allow^ a free passage 

 to the air, and are so pliable that they yield to 

 the lightest pressure. This is the secret of their 

 flight. 



Then the eyes are so constructed that they gather 

 in the faintest and few^est rays of light, and the feet 

 and claws are finely formed for the sudden seizure 

 of prey, the external toe being versatile. Thus in 

 the Owl, we see a carefully perfected and delicately 

 balanced engine of death, framed to survey the in- 

 tricacies of the herbage in the darkness, to glide 

 swiftly and silently through the air, and to bring 

 down the relentless mechanism of foot and talon 

 upon the quarry. From such a foe there is no safety 

 for even the tiniest mouse as it steals along, shel- 

 tered, as it may believe, in the double security of 

 dense cover and of night. 



In the list of British Birds, Yarrell gives ten 

 species of Owls. Of these, four only can fairly 

 be described as familiar — the Tawny, Long-eared, 

 Short-eared and Barn Owls. Of the remaining 

 six, Tengmalm's Owl is a very rare visitant to 

 Great Britain. Its inclusion in the British list 

 rests upon about fourteen occurrences since 18 12 



