330 STRIGIN^. 



like the diurnal rapacious birds, been used for hunt- 

 ing. 



The arrangement of the birds of this family is much 

 more difficult than that of the preceding-, their diflPer- 

 ences being of a less decided character. Cuvier dis- 

 poses of them in the following manner ; — 



1. Otus. Hiboux. Two tufts of feathers on the fore- 

 head ; conch of the ear extending in a semicircle from 

 the bill to near the top of the head, and furnished an- 

 teriorly with a membranous operculum ; disks of slen- 

 der feathers surrounding the eyes very complete ; feet 

 feathered to the claws. Ex. : Strix Otus, Linn.; Str. 

 Brachyotos, Gmel. 



2. Ulula. Chouettes. No tufts on the head; the ear 

 and bill as in the last genus. Ex. : Str. lapponica, 

 Gmel. ; Str. nebulosa, G7nel. 



3. Strix. Effrayes. No tufts on the head ; conch of 

 the ear as large as in the preceding groups ; bill curved 

 only near the end, whereas in the other genera, it is 

 arched in its whole length ; tarsi feathered, but the toes 

 covered only with hairs ; disks larger, and giving them 

 a still more extraordinary aspect. Ex. : Str. flammea, 

 Linn.; Str. badia, Temm, 



4. Syrnium. Chats-Huans. Disk and ruff as in the 

 above ; but the conch reduced to an oval cavity, which 

 does not occupy more than half the height of the skull ; 

 no tufts ; feet feathered to the claws. Ex. : Str. Aluco, 

 Linn. 



3. Bubo. Dues. Conch as small as in the last genus, 

 disks less distinct ; tufts on the head ; large feet, fea- 

 thered to the claws. Ex.: Str. Bubo, Linn. 



