O IVLS. 



43 



resort, a circumstance which, combined with their evening flight 

 and lugubrious cry, has doubtless contributed to inspire the vulgar 

 with that superstitious fear so generally entertained towards these 

 birds, whose screech has from the earliest times, and almost in all 

 countries, been regarded as prophetic of evil. Virgil tells us that 

 on the death of Dido — 



" Sola que culminibus ferali carmine bubo 

 Stepe queri, et longas in iletum ducere voces. 

 Multa que prKterea vatum prasdicta priorum 

 Terribili monitu horriftcant." 



Some species, however, of more cheerful habits, build their nests 

 on the ground among tufts of grass, or even in little concavities 

 scraped on the bare earth. 



The owls have been arranged in four sub-families ; namely, 

 the Hawk-Owls, the Horned Owls, the Owlets, and the Owls 

 proper. 



Siib-Faiiiily f. 



THE HAWK-OWLS. SURNIN.^. 



General Cuaracteristics. — Head small, without tufts, and the facial disk imper- 

 fect over the eyes. 



These birds inhabit the northern parts of Europe and America,' 

 but are by no means peculiar to cold climates, as they are like- 

 wise met with in the southern parts of Africa. Their food chiefly 

 consists of mice, birds, and insects ; but during the winter those 

 of the northern latitudes feed principally on ptarmigans. Their 

 nest is built upon trees, and is composed of sticks, grass, and 

 feathers. The female lays two eggs. 



The type of this sub-family — 



The Canada Owl {Surnia Uluki) is \txy common in the northern parts 

 of North America, where it is remarkable for its daring disposition. 



In Canada it is ahnost impossible to travel eight or ten miles in any of the 

 retired woods without seeing several of them even in broad day ; and at the 

 approach of night their cries are heard proceeding from every part of the 

 forest. Should the weather be lowering and indicative of the approach of 

 rain, their vociferous hootings are so multiplied, especially in the evening, and 

 they respond to each other in tones so strange, that one might imagine some 

 elfish revelry in progress. On approaching one closely, its gesticulations are 

 seen to be of a very extraordinary nature. The position of the bird, which is 

 generally erect, is immediately changed. It inclines its body to watch the 

 motions of the intruder, throws forward the lateral feathers of its head, which 

 has thus the appearance of being surrounded by a broad ruff, looks towards 



