84 



KAPACIOUS BIKDS, OR BIRDS OF PREY. 



CHAPTER 111. 



OWLS Nine British species of Owls The Snowy Owl, the 

 king of his tribe The Barn, or White Owl, the most com- 

 mon and useful of our British Owls Entertaining account 

 of a colony of these birds Kee-vie, the Tame Owl The 

 Ivy, or Tawny Owl Inhabits Woods and Forests Scrip- 

 tural references to the Owl. 



THERE is still another family to be classed among 

 the rapacious birds, and forming a natural link in 

 the chain after eagles and falcons ; namely, OWLS. 

 The chief peculiarities of this tribe consist in the 

 advantages afforded them in their structure, for 

 seeing, flying, and hearing. Some of the birds 

 we have already noticed seek their prey in dif- 

 ferent degrees of light, and their eyes are nicely 

 adapted to meet their peculiar wants in this res- 

 pect. The night birds of prey have very full and 

 large eyes, and the iris is much more susceptible 

 than in the day -birds ; so that, in a strong light, 

 the bird seems partially to close the pupil and be 

 half-blinded, and, as it were, bewildered. By 

 this peculiarity, the eyes of the owl can be ad- 

 justed to the various degrees of light it encounters 

 while in search of prey. 



