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CHAPTER VIII. 



OWLS. SUPERSTITIONS RESPECTING. SHORT EARED. THE GREAT 

 SNOWY OWL. WHITE OWL. MODE OF FEEDING. ATTACH- 

 MENT TO YOUNG. USED IN BIRD-CATCHING. BURROWING 



OWL. DENTIROSTRAL. NOTCH-BILLED BIRDS. SHRIKES. 



MODE OF FEEDING. NESTS OF. USED IN TAKING FALCONS. 



PUFF-BACKED SHRIKE. THRUSH GENUS. INSTINCTIVE HABITS 



IN FEEDING. ANECDOTE. THRUSH AND YOUNG CUCKOO. 



FLY-CATCHERS. COTINGA. TANAGERS. BEAUTY OF. SERRA- 



TIROSTRAL, OR SERRATED BEAKS. HORNBILLS. PLENIROS- 

 TRAL. STRONG BILLED. CRACKLES. PARADISE BIRDS. 



THERE is still another family to be classed amongst 

 the rapacious birds, and forming a natural link in 

 the chain, after Eagles and Falcons, namely, Owls. 

 Every body who has once examined them, must 

 have been struck with the leading points of resem- 

 blance. An Owrs bill is almost like a Hawk's, 

 short, hooked, and like its claws, evidently intended 

 for the purpose of seizing and tearing to pieces its 

 favourite food. An Owl's eye, too, is bright and 

 clear like a Hawk's, but by being larger and more 

 full, is better calculated for the twilight or midnight 

 hours, preferred for prowling abroad in quest of prey. 

 The chief peculiarities of the tribe consist in the 

 advantages afforded them by nature respecting their 

 mode of flight, and sense of seeing and hearing. It 

 is evident, that in order to make a prize of mice, 

 and other small animals, which easily hide them- 

 selves in the ground, or under grass or heath, great 

 silence and clear-sightedness are necessary, as well 

 as a very acute sense of hearing. Accordingly, the 



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