134 STRIGID^E. 



nished with an operculum. Wings long and ample; the second quill-feather 

 generally the longest, the first and third equal in length. Legs long and 

 slender, clothed with downy feathers to the junction of the toes, which are only 

 furnished on the upper surface with a few hair-like feathers ; claws long, 

 curved, sharp, and grooved underneath. 



NATURALISTS appear to be agreed that our well-known 

 Barn Owl may be considered the type of the true Owls, 

 and the old generic term Stria, is accordingly by most 

 authors continued to it. Unlike the species last described, 

 the Barn Owl is resident in this country throughout the 

 year, arid is so peculiar in the colouring of its plumage, and 

 so generally diffused, that it is probably the best known of 

 all the British species of Owls. 



This White Owl inhabits churches, barns, old malting 

 kilns, or deserted ruins of any sort, and also holes in de- 

 cayed trees. If unmolested, the same haunts are frequent- 

 ed, either by parent birds or their offspring for many years 

 in succession. As a constant destroyer of rats and mice, 

 and that to a very considerable extent, the services per- 

 formed by Barn Owls for the agriculturist have obtained 

 for these birds toleration at least, while by some they are, 

 as they deserve to be, strictly protected in return for 

 benefits received. 



Unless disturbed, these birds seldom leave their retreat 

 during the day, and if the place of concealment be ap- 

 proached with caution, and a view of the bird obtained, it 

 will generally be observed to have its eyes closed, as if 

 asleep. About sunset the pair of Owls, particularly when 

 they have young, issue forth in quest of food, and may be 

 observed flapping gently along, searching lanes, hedge-rows, 

 orchards, and small enclosures near out-buildings. In this 

 irregular country, says White of Selborne, " we can stand 

 on an eminence, and see them beat the fields over like a 

 setting dog, and often drop down in the grass or corn." 



