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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. — Hornbills. 

 — 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 



