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CHAPTER VIII 



Owls. Superstitions respecting. Short-eared. The Great Snowy Owl. 

 White Owl. Mode of Feeding. Attachment to Young. Used in 

 Bird-catching. Burrowing Owl. Dentirostral, Notch-billed Birds. 

 Shrikes. Mode of Feeding. Nests of. Used in taking Falcons. 

 Puff-backed Shrike. Thrush Genus. Instinctive Habits in Feeding. 

 Anecdote. Thrush and Young Cuckoo. Fly-catchers. Cotinga. 

 Tanagers, Beauty of. Serratirostral, or Serrated Beaks. Horn bills. 

 Plenirostral, Strong-billed. Grakles. Paradise Birds. 



THERE is still another family to be classed amongst the rapa- 

 cious birds, and forming a natural link in the chain after 



Eagles and Ealcons, 

 namely, Owls. Every- 

 body who has once 

 examined them must 

 have been struck with 

 the leading points of 

 resemblance. An Owl's 

 bill is almost like a 

 Hawk's, short, hooked, 

 and, like its claws, 

 evidently intended for 

 the purpose of seizing 

 and tearing to pieces 

 its favourite food. An 

 Owl's eye, too, is bright 

 and clear, like a Hawk's, 

 but, by being larger 

 and more full, is better 

 The Homed Owl. calculated for the twi- 



light or midnight hours, preferred for prowling abroad in 



