308 NATURAL HISTORY. 



encouraged all around it. The Barn Owl merely resorts to it for the purpose of concealment. If it 

 were really an enemy to the dovecot, we should see the Pigeons in commotion as soon as it begins 

 its evening flight ; but the Pigeons heed it not. Whereas, if the Sparrow- Hawk or Hobby should 

 make its appearance, the whole community would be up at once ; proof sufficient that the Barn Owl is 

 not looked upon as a bad, or even a suspicious character, by the inhabitants of the dovecot." 



The colour of the Barn Owl, which is a bright orange buff, mottled with ashy-grey on the upper 

 surface, and white below, distinguishes it from any other Owl. The oval form of the disc is also to a 

 great extent peculiar, as is also the serrated edge to the middle claw, which has been referred to before 

 (p. 300). The breast bone is likewise remarkable, as it has no clefts in the hinder margin. 



The range of the present species is very considerable, as it is found all over the New World, from 

 the northern and middle United States down to Patagonia and the Falkland Islands. In the Old 

 World it occurs in equal plenty, but does not extend very high north, being a rare visitant to Denmark 

 and Sweden. Although common in Poland, it is only sparingly distributed throughout Russia, and 

 even appears to be entirely absent in many Central and Southern parts. The same may be said 

 of Turkey. It is not known at present from Siberia or China, but is found throughout Africa, India, 

 Australia, and the majority of the Oceanic Islands. Nearly all Owls have two distinct phases of 

 plumage a grey one, and a red one. This is especially the case in the little Scops Owls, which have 

 tufts of feathers on the head like the Eagle Owls, of which they may be said to be representations in 

 miniature. The Barn Owls are no exception to this general rule of the family ; but owing to the 

 light colouring of the bird, it is not so perceptible as in some of the other species of Owls. Even in 

 England, however, a short study of the species will show the student that some individuals are much 

 redder underneath, instead of being white, and are profusely freckled with grey above ; and this dark 

 coloration does not depend upon the age of the bird, nor is it a difference of sex. In some islands, 

 such as the Cape Verde group, San Domingo in the West Indies, the Falkland Islands, and the 

 Galapagos, the Barn Owls are almost always dark-coloured, and light ones are very seldom found. On 

 the other hand, in Australia and Oceania the species becomes peculiarly light in plumage, and dark 

 individuals are the exception. 



THE SECOND ORDER. PICARIAN BIRDS (Picarice).* 



CHAPTER VII. 



THE PARROTS. 



Characteristics of the Order The Sub-orders ZYGODACTYIuE- -THE PARROTS Their Talking Powers Sections of the 

 Family THE GREAT PALM COCKATOO THE PYGMY PARROTS THE AMAZON PARROTS THE AMAZONS THE GREY 

 PARROT Court Favourites Historical Specimens In a State of Nature Mr. Keulemans' Observations THE 

 CONURES THE ROSE-RINGED PARRAKEET Known to the Ancients Habitat Habits THE CAROLINA CONURE 

 Destructive Propensities THE PARRAKEETS THE OWL PARROT Chiefly Nocturnal Incapable of Flight How this 

 Fact may be accounted for Dr. Haast's Account of its Habits THE STRAIGHT-BILLED PARROTS THE BRUSH- 

 TONGUED PARROTS THE NESTORS THE KARA PARROT Skull of a Parrot The Bill. 



THE birds which are contained in this order are of very different forms, but they possess one character 

 which, although an osteological one, is found throughout nearly the whole group, and that is, the 

 double notch in the hinder margin of the sternum or breast bone. In all the true Passeres, or perching 

 birds, only a single notch is observed. The hind toe, which in the true perching birds is an essential 

 character, and is separately movable, possessing its own distinct flexor muscle, is in the Picarians not 

 of so much account, its flexor muscle being joined to the common flexor of all the toes ; it is sometimes 

 absent altogether. If the Parrots have certain characters in common with the Accipitres, the Cuckoos 

 and the Plantain-eaters undoubtedly show affinity to the Game-birds, while most of the other families 

 have peculiar structures which render them quite distinct from the ordinary mass of true perching 

 birds or Passeres. It may be remarked that the eggs of most of the Picaricn, so far as we are 

 acquainted with them, are glossy white, and that the majority of them breed in the holes of trees or of 



* From Picus, a Woodpecker. 



