148 THE OWLS. 



With it I conclude the diurnal birds of prey. Before introducing 

 the nocturnal ones — the owls — I may observe that, under the 

 general heading of Raptores, the British birds of prey may be 

 summed up in the two families — the Falconidce and the Strigidce 

 — divided into sub-families and genera, as already described 

 (leaving aside the Vulturidae). The first sub-family is Aquilina — 

 genus I. Aquila, eagle ; genus II. Halicetus, sea eagle ; genus 

 III. Pandion, osprey. The second sub-family is Accijpitrina, the 

 hawks — genus I. Aster, the gos-hawk ; genus II. Accipiter, the 

 sparrow-hawk. The third sub-family is the Fcdconina or true 

 falcons — genus I. Falco, including the jer falcon, the peregrine, 

 the hobbys, the kestrel, and the merlin. The fourth sub-family 

 is the Buteonina, the buzzards and harriers — genus I. Buteo, 

 embracing the three buzzards ; genus II. Pernis, represented by 

 the honey buzzard ; genus III. Circles, comprises the three 

 harriers. The fifth sub-family is the Milvina — genus I. Milvas, 

 the red -kite ; genus II. Elanus, the swallow kite, last noticed. 



DIVISION II 

 FAMILY IV. STRIGIDCE. 



The Owls, Generic Characters. 



The owls, or night birds of prey, are so different from the 

 other raptores — in their large head, staring eyes, and peculiar 

 facial expression — as not only to separate them, but to suggest 

 that Nature has left a blank between them and the diurnal 

 birds of prey. They are distinguished by their large round 

 head, short neck, broad rounded wings, short tail, and peculiar 

 soft, downy plumage, feathered tarsi, versatile outer toe, and 

 much hooked bill and claws. The unusually large eyes are 

 fixed in their orbits, or have very little motion, directed 

 obliquely forward so that an object may be seen by both at once, 

 like those of man ; but to make up for this the head can turn 

 round as on a pivot. To " stare like an owl," as "grave as an 

 owl," are common expressions for grotesque gravity, dullness, or 

 stupidity, like an owl at noon. Their large eyes enable them to 

 see their prey in the twilight, and even at night ; and the extreme 



