130 



STRIGID.E. 



with five transverse grey bars ; all tlie under parts pure 

 white ; tarsi covered with short white hair-like feathers, a few 

 of which are spread over the upper surface of the toes ; the 

 claws brown, the inner edge of that of the middle toe being 

 slightly serrated. The wings reach beyond the end of the 

 tail, and the edges of the wing and tail-feathers have the 

 appearance of being worn, the fibres forming the web being 

 of unequal length, and the wings of these birds therefore 

 when moved in the air make very little or no noise. In some 

 specimens, generally found on dissection to be females or 

 young males, the under surface of the body is fawn colour. 

 The whole length of the bird is about fourteen inches. 



The vignette below represents the actual size and form of 

 the sternum or breast-bone of the Tawny Owl, the species 

 figured on the opposite page, to be contrasted with the same 

 part of the Peregrine Falcon at page 106. It will be ob- 

 served that the bones of the Owl are comparatively deficient 

 in surface and strength : the keel has but little depth, the 

 sides are narrow, while the forked bone, which in the Falcons 

 is circular, broad, and strong, will be found in this Owl, and 

 in all the species of Owls, to be angular, slender, and weak. 

 The powers of flight are diminished in proportion. 



