588 



EAPTOEES, OE BIKDS OF PEEY. 



on to the water to capture fish which are floating upon the 

 surface. 



The Chinese and Tartars pay special reverence to the Owl, in 

 memory of a fact which well deserves to be recorded. Gengis 

 Khan, the founder of their empire, having been put to flight 

 by his enemies, was one day compelled to take refuge in a wood, 

 and an Owl which came and perched in the thicket in which he 

 had hidden himself was the sole cause of his escaping the pursuit 

 of his foes ; for those who were searching for him very naturally 

 omitted to explore the bushes in which he was concealed, thinking 

 that it was impossible that a covert should at the same time shelter 

 both an Owl and a man. Thus, thanks to the intervention of the 



Fig. 278. The Canada or Hawk Owl (Surnia funerea, Yarrell). 



bird, Gengis Khan was saved from his foes. In memory of this 

 event the Chinese were in the habit of wearing on their heads an 

 Owl's feather. Certain tribes of the Calmucs have an idol repre- 

 senting an Owl. 



The CANADA OWL (Fig. 278) is common in North America, 



