48 



BIRDS OF PREY. 



enveloped in a soft plush, which are destined, in time, to become brown owls. 

 The eggs are of large size, measuring nearly two inches in length by an inch 

 and a half in their transverse diameter. They are equally round at both ends, 

 and perfectly white. The females begin to sit as soon as they have laid their 



-Ihe Bruwm Owl [Sy 



first egg, so that the nestlings are usually of different ages. The parent birds 

 attend upon their brood with great assiduity, and supply them plentifully with 

 mice, shrews, moles, and the young of various other quadrupeds. 



The nestlings of the brown owl are easily brought up by hand, and are very 

 useful in barns and granaries, being most excellent mousers. 



Sub- Family IV. 

 THE OWLS PROPER. STRIGIN^. 



General Characteristics. 

 angular, and complete. 



-Head smooth, v.-ilh the facial disk very large, sub-tri- 



The owls belonging to this sub-family are distributed through- 

 out most climates. They are strictly nocturnal. The softness of 

 their plumage and the peculiar form of their quills give them a 

 buoyant and noiseless flight, which enables them to steal upon 

 their prey unsuspected. They live principally upon mice and 



