544 CLASS XYI. 



Nyctea Stephens. Wings witli second and fourth quill subequal, 

 scarcely shorter than third, produced beyond the middle of tail. 

 Tail somewhat short, subrounded. Toes densely plumed. 



Sp. Surnia nivea, Strix nyctea L., Buff. PI. enl. 458, Nadm. Taf. 41, Susem. 

 Vog. Eur. Taf. 41 ; the snowy owl, le Harfang ; a large species, white with 

 some gi-ey-brown spots and streaks, from the North of Europe and America 

 (found in the Orkney Islands, very rare in Holland and England). The 

 sternum has only a single incision behind on each side. 



Athene Boie (add Glaucidium ejusd.), Gray. Wings with second 

 quill short. Tail moderate or somewhat short, subeven. 



* Toes tvith setaceous, scattered plumes. 



Sp. Surnia noctua, Strix noctua Retz,, Stnx itasserlna Cuv., Buff. PI. enl. 

 439, Naum. Taf. 48, fig. I, Susem. Vog. Eur. Taf. 46; the little owl, little 

 night-otcl, la cJieveche commune, der Steinkautz; a small species from the 

 middle and South of Euroj^e, North America, and Western Asia ; — Surnia 

 hrama, Strix hrama Temminck, PI. col. 68, &c. 



** Toes densely plumed. {Glaucidium Boie.) 



Sp. Surnia passerina, Strix passerina L., Strix acadica Temm., Naum. Taf. 

 43, figs. I, 2, Susem. Vog. Eur. Taf. 43, fig. 2 ; Sweden, Switzerland, 

 Russia ; the smallest species of this family. 



Surnia Dumkril (in stricter sense). Tail long, graduated. Toes 

 densely plumed. 



Sp. Surnia ulula, Stnx idula L., Strix funerea Lath., Strix nisona Meter, 

 Buff. PI. enl. 63, Wilson Am. Orn. PI. 50, fig. 6, 42, fig. 2, Susem. 

 Vogel Eur. Taf. 43, fig. i ; the hatoTc-o\ol, little liaivh-owl, Canada owl, 

 Chouette epervier, Chouette a longue qiieue, die Sperhereule. This species, 

 from the North and East of Europe, Siberia and North America, approaches 

 in its mode of life, and also in form, to the diurnal birds of prey, espe- 

 cially to the Kites ; it does not fly by night, but morning and evening, 

 sometimes even during the day. 



Section II. Aves rapaces diurnce. Base of bill covered by 

 cere. Eyes lateral. Outer toe not shorter than inner, mostly 

 longer. 



Family LIII. Accipitrmce. Bill moderate or shorter than 

 head, hooked, mostly bent in an arch from the base downwards, 

 with margin of upper mandible often dentigerous. Nostrils lateral, 

 rounded or oval, placed in the cere, open. Eyes with upper margin 

 covered by crowded plumes. Head almost always densely plumed. 



The genus Falco of LiNN^Us. On these birds may be consulted J. J. 

 Kaup Monographien der FalconidiV, in Oken's Isis, 1847 (s. 39 — 80, 



