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#11 tlje ®nutIjoIo|sg of Wilfe. 



No. 7.— STRIGID^ (Owls). 



fiF the Eagle enjoyed distinction as tlae favourite of Jove, and 

 I ^ its plume was sought for by the North American Indian, 

 and by the Highland chief in Scotland, as a mark of nobility : 

 or if the Haiok was held sacred by the Turks and Egyptians, 

 and had respect shown to it alive or dead, and is still foimd 

 embalmed in the mummy pits on the borders of the Nile ; not a 

 whit behind hand is the Owl in honour, consecrated by the most 

 learned nation of old to their tutelary Deity, the Goddess of "Wis- 

 dom. And indeed there is a great deal in the appearance, character, 

 and habits of this bird to warrant such a distinction : there is such a 

 remarkably wise expression in its face, it has such a dignified look, 

 its movements are so deliberate, grave and solemn, that wc are ready 

 to agree with the Athenians, and to set down the Owl as the very 

 emblem and personification of learning. And yet again, when we 

 examine the bird, and observe the large facial disk, or rufi" of 

 feathers encircling the face, giving it the most grotesque appear- 

 ance ; while peeping forth from this circular fringe and almost 

 buried in it, projects the short strong hooked beak : when we 

 observe the large staring eyes, glaring forth so solemnly from their 

 ruff, and the head so large and apparently so out of proportion, 

 the figure before us is at once so grave and so ludicrous, so digni- 

 fied and so grotesque, that we are in doubt whether to put it down 

 as a very wise or a very foolish bird. But apart from its appearance, 

 very interesting is the whole family of owls, and well worthy of 

 observation : plunderers though they are, and living by what they 

 can murder, and that too not openly and by day, as the Falconidae, 

 but skulking along on noiseless wing, in the silence and darkness 

 of night they are clever fellows too ; aye, and noble withal, and 



