560 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
to traverse almost unseen the immense deserts of snow, and thus has 
great facilities for surprising its prey, which consists of Hazel Hens, 
Ptarmigan, Grouse, Hares, and Rabbits. Owing to its abundant plu- 
mage and thick down, it is capable of braving the inclemency of a 
climate that would be fatal to any creature less amply protected. 
The fact is attested by the statement of Captain Parry, of Arctic- 
region celebrity, that this bird frequently dies of starvation. Sometimes 
it shows so much audacity and greediness that it is impossible to 
entertain any doubt on the subject of its hunger, as it will pounce on 
the game shot by the sportsman, totally disregarding human presence. 
The Caparacoch Owl, called by Buffon the Great Canadian Sparrow 
Owl, measures about fifteen inches. In snmmer it feeds upon small 
rodents and insects ; in winter on Ptarmigan, which it accompanies in 
their migrations from the South to the North. It will sometimes 
pounce down on the game which is killed by the sportsman, and, if 
care 1s not taken, will carry it off. It is a native of the Arctic regions, 
especially those of America. Sometimes it penetrates as far as 
Germany, but rarely makes its appearance in France. 
The Ural Owls have the same habits as the Harfang, only their 
geographical distribution is less extended. Naturalists regard them 
as one of the rarest of European Owls. As their names indicate, 
they are peculiar to certain countries. They have not the dazzling 
whiteness of the Harfang Owl; and this is the characteristic which 
specially distinguishes them. 
We may class in the same genus two exotic species discovered by 
Levaillant. These are the Choucou, which is a native of Africa, and 
the Huhul Owl of Guiana, which hunts its prey in open day. 
DIuRNAL BIRDS OF PREY. 
All that we previously remarked, when commencing the considera- 
tion of this order, as to the general characteristics which distinguish 
birds of prey, applies more particularly to the nocturnal portion of 
them. We shall not repeat here what we have already stated, but 
only add a few words, the better to specify the diurnal division of the 
order. 
The diurnal birds of prey have their eyes placed at the sides of 
the head, and the toes completely bare. They vary in size from 
those the sprea:l of whose wings is scarcely twelve inches to such as 
stretch their pinions over a space of four or five yards. They lay 
their eggs, which are generally of an oval shape, in rude nests called 
“ aeries.” 
