BIRD.S — STRIGINAE — STRI X PRATINCOLA. 



47 



List of specimens. 



Family STRIGIDAE. The Owls. 



Form usually short and heavy, with the head disproportionately large, and frequently furnished with erectile tufts of feathers 

 resembling the ears of quadrupeds. General organization adapted to vigorous and noiseless but not rapid flight, and to the 

 capture of animals in the morning and evening twilight. 



Eyes usually very large, directed forwards, and in the greater number of species formed for seeing by twilight, or in the 

 night. Bill rather strong, curved, nearly concealed by projecting bristle-like feathers ; wings generally long ; outer edges of 

 primary quills fringed ; legs generally rather short, and in all species, except in one Asiatic genus, (iSTedtpo,) more or less 

 feathered, generally densely. Cavity of the ear very large. Face encircled by a more or less perfect disc of short rigid feathers, 

 which, with the large eyes, gives to those birds an entirely peculiar and frequently cat-like expression. Female largsr than 

 the male. 



There are ahout one hundred and fifty species of owls, which are found in all parts of the 

 world, of which about forty are inhabitants of the continent of America and its islands. The 

 larger species subsist on small quadrupeds and birds, but much the majority almost exclusively 

 prey on insects. Though much the larger number are nocturnal, a few species are strictly 

 diurnal, and in their habits seem to approach the birds of the preceding family. 



Sub-Family STRIGINAE.— T y pi c a 1 Owls. 



Size medium, never very large. Head large ; facial disc perfect ; bill rather long ; eyes 

 rather small for this family ; legs rather long, fully feathered to the toes. 



STRIX, Linnaeus. 



Strix, LiNNAEca, I, p. 131, (1766.) 



Head large, without ear tufts ; eyes rather small; facial disc perfect, and very conspicuous; wings long; tarsi long; tail 

 rather short ; toes and claws rather long. This genus contains about twelve species of all parts of the world. 



STKIX PRATINCOLA, Bonaparte. 



The Bam Owl. 



Sirix pralincola, Bonaf. Comp. List, p. 7, (1838.) 



Sirix .imericana, Add. Orn. Biog. TI, p. 421, (1834, not of Gmelin 1788.) 



FiouRES.— Wilson, Am. Orn. VI, pi. 50, fig. 2 ; Aud. B. of Am., pi. 171 :.Oct. ed. I, pi. 34 ; Nat. Hist. New York, Birds, 

 pi. 13, fig. 28. 



