24} ACCIPITRES. 



and the size of its orifice, and partly by the beau- 

 tifully serrated outer edge of the wing-primaries ; 

 which, allowing them to range without noise 

 through the air, enables them to approach un- 

 heard their unsuspecting victim, which falls a 

 prey to the silent flight and piercing eye of an 

 inveterate enemy.* 



Some of the species are distinguished by having 

 a series of feathers more or less lengthened, on 

 each side of the top of the head, which can be 

 erected at pleasure ; when raised they have a very 

 distant resemblance to horns, or to the erect ears 

 of a cat, and hence these species are familiarly 

 spoken of as horned or eared Owls. 



Owjs are dispersed over all parts of the globe ; 

 and several of the species enjoy a wide geogra- 

 phical range. 



GENUS STRIX. (LiNN.) 



This genus, which is considered as exhibiting 

 the peculiarities of the nocturnal birds of prey in 

 the highest degree of development, is well illus- 

 trated by the most common British species of the 

 Family, the White, or Screech Owl. Several 

 species, very slightly differing from this, are found 

 in various parts of the world, which may be cha- 

 racterized as having the head very large, without 

 any tufts of erectile feathers, but with the face- 

 disks very complete, and of great width; their 

 extent is marked by dense semicircles of rigid 

 narrow feathers, forming a sort of collar, with 

 turned ends, lying close upon each other in the 

 manner of scales. The orifice of the ear, which 

 is within this collar, is also large, as is the ear- 



* Zool. Journ.'vol. iii. 



