244 OWLS. 



In their habits, the Owls may be generally 

 termed arboreal, the dark recesses of the forest or 

 wooded rocks affording cover from the too strong 

 light of day. From these retreats they can make 

 excursions in twilight, either to the outskirts or to 

 the more open glades. A few species are marked 

 by the peculiarity of their selecting the refuge 

 afforded by ruined buildings during the day ; and 

 in almost all countries, one at least is known as 

 delighting in such retreats. One British bird, and 

 a few foreign species, do inhabit countries where 

 wood is scarce, or totally wanting ; but their day 

 retreats are either among the crevices of rocks, or 

 in the burrows of some animals. 



The eggs are of a rounded form, and are always 

 nearly pure white, in some assuming a slight 

 greenish tinge as among the Harriers ; see 



PLATE XXV. 

 Eggs of Harriers and Owls. 



The geographical distribution of the birds which 

 belong to the British Fauna is extensive. The 

 common White Owl reaches the North American 

 continent, perhaps also to that of India, while it 

 seems represented in all. the other quarters of the 

 wonu. by some bird nearly allied in size and 

 colouring, but of which the specific distinctions 



