im STRIX. 



is in some degree acquainted with both. Their large 

 eyes, having extremely contractile irides, their highly 

 developed auditory apparatus, their extremely acute 

 claws, their long, broad, elastic, and downy wings, fit 

 them for the stealthy nocturnal life of plunder which 

 they lead. Theb flight is extremely buoyant, as might 

 be expected from so light and slender a body, and such 

 expanded wings. Their neck is extremely mobile, 

 which is the more necessary in birds whose eyeballs 

 have little motion, although, being directed obliquely 

 forwards, they give more precision to the aim, as the 

 object of pursuit is seen with both. A principal use 

 of the very large and elongated tail of the hawks, seems 

 to be to break their fall when they come at full speed 

 upon an object on the ground ; and the reason why the 

 tail of most owls, and of those of this genus in par- 

 ticular, is so short and feeble, may be that their downy 

 elastic wings, and extremely bulky and light plumage, 

 prevents them from falling with a force which they 

 cannot instantaneously break without the use of a very 

 large tail. 



Let any one contemplate the expanded wing of a 

 screech-owl, as I at this moment do, and he must feel 

 how utterly inadequate human ingenuity and power 

 are to the construction of so admirable an instrument 

 of silent, gliding, buoyant, and rapid flight. Nay, how 

 infinitely insignificant do all man's boasted works be- 

 come, when compared with a tuft of down from the 

 abdomen of an owl ! — and how much blinder than that 

 bii'd is when oppressed by the glare of the mid-day 

 sun, are they who cannot see in all things the forming 

 power and upholding care of an omnipresent Deity ! 



