544 CLASS xvi. 



Nyctea STEPHENS. Wings with second and fourth quill subequal, 

 scarcely shorter than third, produced beyond the middle of tail. 

 Tail somewhat short, subrounded. Toes densely plumed. 



Sp. Sumia nivea, Strix nyctea L., BUFF. PL enl. 458, NAUM. Taf. 41, SDSEM. 

 Vog. Eur. Taf. 41 ; the snowy owl, le Harfang ; a large species, white with 

 some grey-brown spots and streaks, from the North of Europe and America 

 (found in the Orkney Islands, very rare in Holland and England). The 

 sternum has only a single incision behind on each side. 



Athene BOIE (add Glauddium ejusd.), GRAY. Wings with second 

 quill short. Tail moderate or somewhat short, subeven. 



* Toes with setaceous, scattered plumes. 



Sp. Surnia noctua, Strix noctua RETZ., Strix passerina Cuv., BUFF. PL enl. 

 439, NAUM. Taf. 48, fig. i, SUSEM. Vog. Eur. Taf. 46 ; the little owl, little 

 night-owl, la chevZche commune, der Steinkautz; a small species from the 

 middle and South of Europe, North America, and Western Asia ; Surnia 

 brama, Strix brama TEMMINCK, PL col. 68, &c. 



** Toes densely plumed. (Glauddium BOIE.) 



Sp. Surnia passerina, Strix passerina L., Strix acadica TEMM., NAUM. Taf. 

 43, figs, i, 2, SUSEM. Vog. Eur. Taf. 43, fig. 2; Sweden, Switzerland, 

 Russia ; the smallest species of this family. 



Surnia DUMERIL (in stricter sense). Tail long, graduated. Toes 

 densely plumed. 



Sp. Surnia ulula, Strix ulula L., Strix funerea LATH., Strix nisoria METER, 

 BUFF. PL enl. 63, WILSON Am. Orn. PL 50, fig. 6, 42, fig. i, SUSEM. 

 Vogel Eur. Taf. 43, fig. i ; the hawk-owl, little hawk-owl, Canada owl, 

 Chouette e"pervier, Chouette a longue queue, die Sperbereule. This species, 

 from the North and East of Europe, Siberia and North America, approaches 

 in its mode of life, and also in form, to the diurnal birds of prey, espe- 

 cially to the Kites ; it does not fly by night, but morning and evening, 

 sometimes even during the day. 



Section II. Aves rapaces diurnce. Base of bill covered by 

 cere. Eyes lateral. Outer toe not shorter than inner, mostly 

 longer. 



Family LIII. Accipitrmce. Bill moderate or shorter than 

 head, hooked, mostly bent in an arch from the base downwards, 

 with margin of upper mandible often dentigerous. Nostrils lateral, 

 rounded or oval, placed in the cere, open. Eyes with upper margin 

 covered by crowded plumes. Head almost always densely plumed. 



The genus Falco of LINNAEUS. On these birds may be consulted J. J. 

 KAUP Monographien der Falconidce, in OKEN'S Isis, 1847 ( 8 - 39 8o / 



