278 uius, 



IN the birds composing the genus Otus, 

 Cuvier, we hegin to see habits more diurnal, and 

 a less degree of annoyance when exposed to a 

 bright sun ; more wary habits when disturbed ; the 

 irides coloured, as in the aberrant forms of the 

 Falconidas. The structure, however, continues all 

 the beautiful peculiarities for nightly hunting, but 

 the habits we have mentioned must weigh strongly 

 in coming to a proper decision what form is entitled 

 to rank as typical of the whole family. The head 

 is adorned with egrets or lengthened feathers, a 

 modification of a crest. 



OTUS, generic characters. Bill comparatively 

 short, bending from the base, and forming an 

 eliptic curve ; margins of the mandible nearly 

 straight ; nostrils oval, placed obliquely. Con- 

 chal opening large, shutting with a narrow oval 

 operculum ; auditory opening large. Facial 

 disk complete; head furnished with egrets. 

 Wings long, second quill longest ; tail even ; 



