400 CORACITFORMES CHAP. 
Syrnium cinereum, one of the largest members of the Family, 
is thirty inches long, though Subo possesses species that are 
perhaps more powerful; on the other hand, MWicrathene whitneyi 
and Glaucidium cobanense measure about five inches. Omitting 
the white or yellowish-white forms, the coloration of Owls may 
be stated to be a mixture of black, brown, rufous, grey, yellow, 
and white, while barring is frequent on the wings and tail. The 
pattern is always difficult to describe, nor can more than an in- 
dication of it be given in the space available below. Permanent 
rusty-red and grey. phases occur in many species, or more rarely 
a brown phase; such species as exhibit two of these being termed 
dimorphic, though dichromatic would better express the meaning. 
The bill is blackish, dusky, or yellowish. The moult in the 
Strigidae appears to be very gradual. 
Owls are an exceptionally cosmopolitan group of birds, a large 
proportion of the genera being common to both hemispheres ; 
Ketupa, Scotopelia, Ninox, Heteroglaux, Sceloglaux, Carine, Photo- 
dilus and Heliodilus are, however, peculiar to the Old World, 
Speotyto, Gymnasio and Micrathene to the New. The Short-eared 
Owl (Asio accipitrinus) is found at various seasons throughout 
the globe, except, it would seem, in West Africa, Australia, the 
Moluceas, Papuasia, and Oceania; if occurs even in the Sand- 
wich, Galapagos, and Falkland Islands. The Screech-Owl (Strix 
flammea) has an even wider range, but is not met with in 
Norway, the north of North America, or New Zealand. Authorities 
differ as to the genera and species to be recognised, but certainly 
many more of the latter are now known than the one hundred 
and ninety at which Dr. Sharpe put the total in 1875." 
The members of this Family frequent districts of the most 
varied description, whether they be wooded highlands, rocky 
ravines, or cultivated lowlands ; the Snowy Owl (Wyctea scandiaca) 
nests chiefly on the fjelds and barren lands towards the North 
Pole; while the Burrowing Owl (Speotyto ewnicularia), which is 
equally at home on the sandy plains of North or South America, is 
exceptional as an instance of gregarious habits in the group. The 
majority, being nocturnal, are ill at ease in sunlight, a fact which 
may explain the apparent discrepancy between their habitual 
shyness and their bold conduct at the nest or when wounded; 
many are then positively dangerous, and prove worse adversaries 
1 Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. ii. 1875, p. vii. 
