106 BIRDS. 



/. CONURUS, Kuhl. Parroquets. 



1. C. carolinensis, (L.) Kuhl. Carolina Parroquet. 

 Green; head and neck yellow; face red; wings with blue 

 and yellow; bill white; L. 13; W. 7^; T. 6. Southwest- 

 ern, formerly N. to the Great Lakes; now nearly exter- 

 minated. 



OEDEE J.-RAPTOEES. 



{The Birds of Prey.) 



Bill powerful, cered at base, strongly hooked at the 

 end. Feet never zygodactyle ; fourth toe sometimes 

 versatile; claws long and sharp; hind toe well developed, 

 rarely elevated ; tibia, and often tarsus, feathered. 

 Primaries 10; tail feathers 12 (with rare exceptions). 

 Altricial, but young downy at birth. Carnivorous birds, 

 generally of large size and great strength, found in every 

 part of the world. 



FAMILY XLIV.— STRIGID:^. 



{The Owls.) 

 Head very large, shortened lengthwise and greatly 

 expanded laterally; the eyes directed forwards and 

 partly surrounded by a disk of radiating feathers of 

 peculiar texture; loral feathers antrorse, long and dense; 

 feathers on the sides of forehead often elono'ated into 

 ear - like tufts. Plumage very soft and lax, rendering the 

 flight almost noiseless; its colors blended and mottled so 

 as to render minute description difficult. External ear 

 very large, often provided with a mova])le fla]i. Outer 

 toe versatile; claws very sharp, long and strong. Eggs 

 nearly spherical, pure white. Chiefly nocturnal. Sexes 

 colored alike, $ usually the larger. Owls are found in 

 every part of the glol)e, and most of the species have a 



