Sub-Family SYRNIN/E, Gray Owls. 



Char. Head large, with very small and concealed ear-tufts, or entirely with- 

 out. Facial disc nearly perfect ; eyes small for the family of Owls ; wings rather 

 short, or not so long as in the preceding ; tarsi and toes generally fully feathered. 



This group contains some of the largest of the Owls ; gener- 

 ally, however, the size is medium, and frequently small. They 

 inhabit extremes of latitude. The plumage is generally lax and 

 soft. 



Genus SYRNIUM, .Savigny. 



Gen. Ch.ir. Size usually large ; head large, wilhout ear-tufts ; eyes rather small ; bill strong, 

 curved from the base ; fourth and fifth quills longest ; tail rather long, wide, rounded ; legs mod- 

 erate or rather long ; claws long, strong, very sharp ; conch of the ear a simple oval cavity, only 

 half the height of the cranium. 



Species of the genus inhabit principally the northern parts of 

 the world, and are generally characterized by the prevalence of 

 gray or cinereous of various shades in their plumage. There are 

 some fifteen or twenty species altogether, two only of which are 

 met with in Canada. 



Syrnium Cinereum (Gmc.) Aud. 



CINEREOUS OVi^L; GREAT GRAY OWL. 

 PLATE XXIV, 



The Great Gray or Cinereous Owl is the largest and most 

 magnificent of the whole Owl family. On the same Plate with it 

 is figured, by way of contrast, the little Acadian or Saw-whet Owl, 

 the smallest species found in Canada ; and the contrast is indeed 

 striking. 



I wish to begin mj- description of this truly grand bird by 

 clearly stating, that although it has been more or less met with 

 every winter in Canada, it is by no means a common species, and 

 certainly not a resident one. I invite special attention to this 



