2 68 BACKBONED ANIMALS. 



NOTE. Over nine species of hawks and falcons were formerly used 

 in hunting ; as early as 400 B. C. this sport was indulged in, and in 

 the reign of Edward III to kill a falcon was punished with death. In 

 1290 Kublai Khan in Central Asia had no less than ten thousand fal- 

 cons. The khan rode upon an elephant, and his army of ten thousand 

 formed a great circle to catch the birds. The eight hundred falcons 

 of the King of Persia in the seventeenth century were trained to hunt 

 wild boars, asses, antelopes, and foxes, and to blind them. The sport 

 is carried on to this day near Abasheher, Persia. The Bedouins of the 

 Sahara capture large numbers to sell. 



VALUE. Hawk and eagle quills are valued in trade. 



The Owls (Strigtda) have large heads, the eyes direct- 

 ed forward, the plumage soft, rendering the flight noise- 

 less, ear-tufts in some conspicuous, claws long and sharp. 

 They have a world-wide range, and are generally noctur- 

 nal. About forty American species are known. 



The great horned owl (Bubo Virginianus] (Fig. 301), 

 and the screech owls, are common American forms. 



The snowy owl (NycUa nived] is found in the northern 

 portion of both continents, and is generally pure white, 

 more or less barred with dark tints. It winters in New 

 England and as far north as Spitzbergen, living in the 

 ptarmigan fells, preying upon these birds and capturing 

 them easily. From its remarkable resemblance to them, 

 the ptarmigans often mistake it for one of their kind. 

 They see readily in the day-time, and in northern Asia 

 follow the lemmings and other small animals. 



The burrowing owl* (Sphtotyto cunicularia, var. hypo- 

 gcea) is peculiar to America. They live in the burrows of 

 the prairie-dogs, often in company with rattlesnakes. 



Order X. Parrots (Psittaci}. General Characteris- 

 tics. The birds of this order are characterized by heavy, 



* In South America the burrowing owl (Athene] lives in the burrow 

 of the LagostomuS) the Agouti also making use of the den. That it 

 is laziness on the part of the owl is shown by the fact that if \heLagos- 

 tomus is not in its neighborhood, it digs its own burrow. 



