The Owls. 101 



drink ; carry off their prey in their feet, for which their sharp 

 claws are well fitted, and, like the buzzards and harriers, beat 

 their hunting-grounds in regular order, near the surface of the 

 earth. Indeed, if we look back to the family of falcons, we shall 

 see in many respects a gradual approach to the owls in the 

 genera last described, these marks of similarity becoming more 

 and more apparent as we advance. Thus the Buzzards, though 

 essentially belonging to the Falconidse, possess a heavy form, an 

 indolent appearance, plumage soft in texture, downy and loose, 

 flight easy and buoyant, but not swift, and (as the American 

 Naturalist Wilson says) , ' they are often seen coursing over the 

 surface of the meadows long after sunset, many times in pairs ;" 

 in all these points they betoken a decided approach to the owls, 

 which, however, becomes yet more marked in the intervening 

 family of Harriers, for in addition to all the above-named points 

 of resemblance in flight, plumage, and appearance, these birds 

 possess the form of beak, and the peculiar and distinct disk of 

 close-set feathers, surrounding the face, for which the owls are so 

 noted add to this, that the skeletons of the harriers and the 

 owls show a close affinity, as do their eggs ; and in both the large 

 aperture of the ear is conspicuous. Thus the two families of 

 diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey, the falcons and the owls, 

 approach one another by gradual and almost insensible steps, so 

 smoothly, evenly, and easily does nature pass from one link to 

 another in her great chain, so gentle are the transitions from one 

 genus to another. 



The family of owls may be divided into two groups, those 

 which possess horns, and those which have smooth heads : these 

 horns or ears are simply two tufts of feathers on the head, vary- 

 ing in length according to the species, and which can be raised 

 or depressed at the pleasure of the bird, according as it is 

 actuated by sudden fear, rage, or excitement of any kind, or is 

 slumbering in repose. There are seven species which I am able 

 to enumerate as belonging to this county, the first two and the 

 last of which are very rare, and only occasional stragglers, the 

 remaining four being sufficiently common. Of the seven species 



