FAMILIES TYTONIDjE AND BUBONID,E 



prey; but they are modified for nocturnal 

 life and their anatomy , shows them to be 

 more closely related to the goatsuckers than 

 to the hawks. Their other conspicuous 

 characters are the large eyes which are 

 directed forward and are surrounded by an 

 area of radiating feathers forming what is 

 called the facial disk, and the soft fluffy plum- 

 age usually of mottled brown, buff and 

 blackish shades, making them inconspicuous 

 in subdued light and giving them a noiseless, 

 stealthy flight. Some of the species can, 

 however, see well and hunt by daylight, espe- 

 cially in cloudy weather. Their cries and 

 calls are very different in the different species^ 

 and are often very peculiar. 



Owls are found in practically all parts of the 

 world, though the group is a rather small one. 

 The Barn Owls (Tytonida), are separated 

 from the other owls (Bubonidcz) because of 

 having certain anatomical peculiarities and 

 the outline of the facial disk triangular rather 

 than rounded. 



The so-called horns or ears that many owls 

 have on the head are merely tufts of feathers. 

 The true organs of hearing in the owls are, 

 however, highly developed as a part of 

 their adaptation to nocturnal life. 



Key to the Owls 



a. With ear tufts. 



b. Very small, length about 230 mm. (9.00 in.); face 

 and ear tufts barred brown and buffy; facial rim 

 and an eye ring dark brown ; under parts with fine 



bars forming herring bone pattern 



Otus choliba luctisonus 



146 



