300 NATURAL HISTORY. 



Crying, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo. 



Hoo, hoo, hoo, my feet are cold ; 

 Pity me, for here you see me, 

 Persecuted, poor, and old.' " * 



The Owls are divided into two families, the first of which is called Bubonidce, and the second 

 Strigidce. In the latter family are represented only two genera, Striae and Heliodilus, which contain 

 six species, all the remaining Owls, about one hundred and ninety in number, belonging to the 

 BubonMce. The breast-bone in the latter family always shows two or more clefts or indentations, and 

 there are no " serrations " on the middle claw, whereas the Barn-Owls always have the inner edge of 

 the middle claw serrated, that is, with a small, toothed margin, like the teeth of a saw (serra, Lat., a 

 saw ; serratus, notched like a saw), and the breastbone has no clefts in its hinder edge. The 

 Bubonidce embrace two sub-families, the Buhonince, which have no opercuhim, or fold of skin, closing 

 in the ear, and the Syrniince, which have a very large operculum. It seems natm-al to commence the 

 classification of the Nocturnal Accipitres with the Bare-legged or Fishing Owls, as the structure of 

 this part very much resembles that of the Osprey, which was the concluding representative of the 

 Diurnal Accipitres. The thigh feathers are thick, and fit close to the leg ; the tarsus and toes are bare ; 

 the outer toe is reversible ; and the soles of the feet are covered with tiny spicules, which serve to hold 

 fast their finny prey in the same manner as do those of the Osprey. 



THE FISH 0\VL. 



The following account of the Indian Fish Owl (Ketupa \ ceylonensis] is taken from the work by 

 Captain Vincent Legge, R.A., on the birds of Ceylon : "This large Owl loves the vicinity of water, 

 haunting the banks of rivers, tanks, inland salt lagoons, the borders of sea-bogs, and woods surround- 

 ing rice-fields. All who have visited the tanks in the north and east of Ceylon must be familiar with 

 the fine bird, which so often is surprised napping in the lofty trees growing on the embankments, or 

 so-called 'bunds.' Its powers of vision in the day are not quick, but they are tolerably clear. On 

 hearing the footsteps of man, it raises its large ear-tufts, and bending down its head, stares steadily 

 down from its lofty perch among the green boughs, and as soon as it becomes aware of the nature of 

 the intruder on its retreat, launches itself out of the tree, and is not easily approached a second time. 

 It is much more common in wild forest country, combined with water, than in cultivated districts. It 

 sallies out in the evening with great regularity. As soon as the sun begins to sink behind the sur- 

 rounding forest, it may be noticed flapping noiselessly round some secluded cheena, or leisurely crossing 

 the lonely tank, resounding at the hour of sunset with the buzzing of innumerable frogs, to the nearest 

 conspicuous tree, and there gives out its sepulchral groan. This gloomy salutation is usually responded 

 to by its mate, who perches close at hand, and answers by a double note, the two lonesome sounds 

 resembling the words gloom oh, gloom. At night I have often heard these notes repeated by a pair 

 without intermission for many minutes. Layard remarks that, when alarmed during the day, they 

 utter a loud hiss, subsiding into a growl. They appear to have an accustomed place of roosting, for Mr. 

 Houldsworth notices that they ' perched day after day on the same branch ! ' This is very often in 

 an exposed situation, and it frequently falls to their lot to be mobbed by a flock of garrulous Bulbuls, 

 King-Crows, and other Owl-hating small birds. Fish is the favourite food, and, in fact, the usual diet 

 of this species ; but when this is not procurable, small mammals, reptiles, and even insects are devoured 

 by them. In the stomach of one, for example, I found a Snake (Haplocercus ceylonensis), and some 

 large Beetles. As a proof of their miscellaneous diet, and also of their voracity, I may mention that 

 a pair of Fish Owls, which were kept by Sir Charles Layard in the same aviary with a Brahmin Kite, 

 fell one night upon their luckless companion, and, after slaughtering him, forthwith proceeded to devour 

 him completely. Further, Mr. Hume records, in 'Nests and Eggs,' finding the remains of Quails, 

 Doves, and Mynahs in the nest of a pair on the Jumna. It has also been stated that they feed on 

 the carcases of the Gavial and Crocodile." 



* " Essays on Natural History," p. 8. -j- Ketupa, a " barbarous " name, with no meaning. 



