560 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



to traverse almost unseen the immense deserts of snow, and thus has 

 great facilities for surprising its prey, which consists of Hazel Hens, 

 Ptarmigan, Grouse, Hares, and Rabbits. Owing to its abundant plu- 

 mage and thick down, it is capable of braving the inclemency of a 

 climate that would be fatal to any creature less amply protected. 



The fact is attested by the statement of Sir W. E. Parry, of Arctic- 

 region celebrity, that this bird frequently dies of starvation. Sometimes 

 it shows so much audacity and greediness that it is impossible to 

 entertain any doubt on the subject of its hunger, as it will pounce on 

 the game shot by the sportsman, totally disregarding human presence. 



The Caparacoch Owl, called by Buffon the Great Canadian Sparrow 

 Owl, measures about fifteen inches. In summer it feeds upon small 

 rodents and insects ; in winter on Ptarmigan, which it accompanies in 

 their migrations from the South to the North. It will sometimes 

 pounce down on the game which is killed by the sportsman, and, if 

 care is not taken, will carry it off. It is a native of the Arctic regions, 

 especially those of America. Sometimes it penetrates as far as 

 Germany, but rarely makes its appearance in France. 



The Ural Owls have the same habits as the Harfang, only their 

 geographical distribution is less extended. Naturalists regard them 

 as one of the rarest of European Owls. As their name indicates, 

 they are peculiar to certain countries. They have not the dazzling 

 whiteness of the Harfang Owl ; and this is the characteristic which 

 specially distinguishes them. 



We may class in the same genus two exotic species discovered by 

 Levaillant. These are the Choucou, which is a native of Africa, and 

 the Huhul Owl of Guiana, which hunts its prey in open day. 



DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. 



All that we previously remarked, when commencing the considera- 

 tion of this order, as to the general characteristics which distinguish 

 birds of prey, applies more particularly to the nocturnal portion of 

 them. We shall not repeat here what we have already stated, but 

 only add a few words, the better to specify the diurnal division of the 

 order. 



The diurnal birds of prey have their eyes placed at the sides of 

 the head, and the toes completely bare. They vary in size from 

 those the spread of whose wings is scarcely twelve inches to such as 

 stretch their pinions over a space of four or five yards. They lay 

 their eggs, which are generally of an oval shape, in rude nests called 

 " eyrie's." 



