DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF OWLS. 29? 



season, when it makes its nest at some distance from its feeding haunts. Its food consists entirely of 

 fish, and it is capable of carrying off one of considerable size ; in the capture of its prey it is greatly 

 aided by its reversible toes, and by the roughness of the sole of the foot, which is covered with 

 minute spikes, and these are, of course, of great assistance to the bird in holding such a strong 

 and slippery prey as a large fish often proves to be. Professor Newton writes of one living 

 in the Zoological Gardens, that "when a fish was given to it, it was observed to seize it 

 across the body, placing the inner and outer toes at right angles with the middle and hind 

 toes, and, digging in the claws, it held the fish most firmly by four opposite points, not relaxing 

 its hold or altering the position of the toes, but picking out the portions of flesh from between them 

 with great dexterity." Occasionally, the Osprey attacks a fish beyond its strength, and it is then 

 drawn under the water, and drowned. Mr. Dresser saw this happen in the Bay of Fundy, when a 

 Fish Hawk was unable to release itself from a heavy fish, and. after being dragged under the water 

 time after time, was ultimately carried out to sea, and disappeared. Mr. Collett, of Christiania, tells us 

 that in one of the Norwegian lakes a huge Pike was caught, with the remains of an Osprey 's skeleton still 

 attached to its back. Sometimes, on landing its prey, the bird is unable to extricate its talons, and is 

 captured alive. The nest of the Osprey is a large structure, and is variously situated, according to the 

 nature of the locality. It is generally placed on a tree ; but in situations where there are no trees 

 the position chosen is on a large rock or stone, very often on the islands in the middle of the lakes 

 which it frequents. The eggs are generally three in number, sometimes four, and are very beautiful, 

 varying from a rich red to a buffy-white colour, with large reddish and brown markings. In Europe 

 it is found nesting invariably in pairs, but in North America large communities are found ; and Dr. 

 Brewer relates that sometimes as many as " three hundred pairs have been observed nesting on one 

 small island ; and when a new nest is to be constructed, the whole community has been known to take 

 part in its completion. They are remarkably tolerant towards smaller birds, and permit the Purple 

 Grakle (Qniscalus purpureus) to construct its nests in the interstices of their own." 



THE THIRD SUB-ORDER. STRIGES, THE OWLS. 



The principal distinctions between Hawks and Owls (Striyes) have been already pointed out 

 (p. 255) ; but there are still some other smaller characters to which a passing allusion must be made. 

 It would be difficult, for instance, for the merest novice in the study of ornithology to mistake an Owl, 

 when seen alive in a cage, or even in a case of stuffed birds, its enormous head and short neck being 

 unlike those of any of the other birds of prey. The neck of some 

 Owls is, indeed, so short and contracted, that it is with difficulty 

 that any intervening curve between the nape and the back, which 

 would mark a perceptible neck as in most Hawks, can be detected. 

 Again, the Owls have their eyes directed forwards, so that they con- 

 front the spectator ; while most of the other birds of prey turn their 

 head more or less on one side when their attention is diverted, and 

 do not look one straight in the face as an Owl does. The cere is 

 almost always hidden by bristles in the Singes, and the latter have a 

 very distinct facial disc, surrounded by a curious ruff, somewhat similar 

 to that of the Harriers (Circus, p. 268), and Harrier-Hawks (Mivrastur, SKULL OF TEKGHALM'S owi, 

 p. 270). The external ear-opening is a complicated organ in the Owls, 



and differs considerably, the orifices often being of different form on either side of the head ; and 

 in one species, Tengmalm's Owl (Nyctala tengmalmi), the ear-openings are of different shape in the 

 skull itself. 



To those interested in bird-lore, a most entertaining study might be afforded by tracing the 

 superstitions with which Owls have been regarded in all countries, and in the earliest times. Such 

 a study was begun by the late Mr. Broderip, in his " Zoological Recreations,"* where he quotes from 

 the ancient writers many passages, which show that Owls were as much regarded as birds of ill-omen 

 by the inhabitants of Greece and Italy in olden times as they have been in England up to the present 



* pp. 82, 95. 



