STRIGID A. — CLIV. 261 
427. PANDION Savigny. (vavdior, a name in mythology.) 
825. P. haliaétus (L.). Osprey. Fisn Hawk. Dark brown; 
tail grayish with narrow dark bars; head neck and lower parts 
mostly white; 9 with the breast more spotted; feet very large. 
L. 24. W.20. T.10. In most parts of the world, about water, 
an expert fisher. The American bird is var. carolinensis Gmelin. 
(Gr., sea-eagle.) 
Famity CLIV. STRIGIDAX. (THE Barn Owls.) 
A small family including those owls which have long faces, the 
facial disk being complete and subtriangular. All these have the 
sternum entire behind, with a central emargination, the furculum 
grown fast ; the middle and inner toes are about equal in length, 
and the middle claw is pectinate below. Genera 2, species 6 or 8, 
chiefly of Asia and Europe. 
a. Wings long, pointed, reaching beyond tail when folded; no ear tufts; tar- 
sus scant-feathered; bill pale; eyes black. . . . . . STRIX, 428. 
428. STRIX Linneus. (Lat. screech-owl.) 
826. S. pratincola Bonaparte. Barn Own. Tawny of 
various shades, very finely mottled, streaked, and dotted with 
darker; below pale, with some spots. L. 17. W. 13. T. 53. 
N. Am., chiefly S., a handsome, solemn-looking, and fierce little 
owl. (Lat., inhabitant of fields.) 
Famity CLV. BUBONIDAS. (Tue OwLs.) 
Head very large, shortened lengthwise and greatly expanded 
laterally, the eyes directed forwards and partly surrounded by a 
more or less complete circular disk of radiating feathers of peculiar 
texture; loral feathers antrorse, long and dense; feathers on the 
sides of forehead often elongated into ear-like tufts. Plumage very 
soft and lax, rendering the flight almost noiseless; its colors blended 
and mottled so as to baffle description. External ear very large, 
often provided with a movable flap. Outer toe reversible ; claws 
very sharp, long, and strong; inner toe shorter than middle; mid- 
dle. claw not pectinate. Sternum double notched or fenestrate ; 
furculum free. Eggs nearly spherical, pure white. Chiefly noc- 
turnal. Sexes colored alike, @ usually the larger. Owls are 
found in every part of the globe, and most of the species have a 
wide range. Their habits are too well known to need description 
here. 
a. Tarsus fully feathered. 
b. Eye in the centre of a nearly complete circular disk; external ear larger 
than eye, with a well developed opercle. 
ce. Ear-tufts present, sometimes very short ; cere longer than rest of cul- 
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