AVES. 313 



and never but when disturbed. In the month of May they usually begin 

 to build. The nest is generally placed in the fork of a tall tree, and is 

 constructed of sticks piled in considerable quantities, lined with dry leaves 

 and a few feathers. Sometimes they choose a hollow tree, and in that case 

 carry in but few materials. The female lays four eggs, nearly as large as 

 those of a hen, almost globular, and of a pure white. It is conjectured that 

 they hatch but once in the season." 



Sevei'al large species are found in Europe, one of which, Btibo maximns 

 {pi. 104, fg. 4), the Grand Duke, as it is called upon the continent, is the 

 largest of all the owls. It is common in the forests of the North of Europe, 

 and is more or less met with throughout the continent, thouf^h rare in the 

 British Islands. 



Other species of the great horned owls inhabit various countries of the 

 world, all of which are of large size, and many of them possess considerable 

 beauty of plumage. In South America are found the B. magellanicus, and 

 crassirostus, both much resembling the northern species. India has several 

 fine species, B. hengalensis, orientahs, and coromandus. In Africa, also, 

 several species are found, one of which, B. lacteus, is very large, with the 

 under parts of the body of a pure white color. 



In India is found a remarkable genus (Ketupa), which differs only from 

 the great horned owls in having long and entirely bare legs. 



The common small or screech owls, as they are usually called in the 

 United States [Ephialtes navia, and asio), belong to this sub-family. The 

 two here mentioned are usually considered to be the adult and young of 

 the same bird, and are the most familiar and best known of the North 

 American species. Both are common in the Northern and Middle States, 

 and come in the dusk of the evening boldly about the houses and out-build- 

 ings of the farmers, and even may occasionally be seen in the cities. The 

 notes of the screech owls are peculiarly melancholy, and are no favorites 

 with the juvenile population ; and, in fact, not at all pleasant to us of a 

 larger growth. The nests of the screech owls are made in hollow trees, 

 of a little grass or leaves, in which three to five eggs are laid, perfectly 

 white and nearly globular. 



Some twelve other species of these small horned owls inhabit all parts 

 of the world except Australia. 



Sub-fam. 3. Athenince, or Bird Owls. Facial disk imperfect ; bill mode- 

 rate and usually exposed ; wings and tail moderate, rounded. Tarsi and 

 feet moderate, sometimes long, but partially feathered. Size usually small. 

 Head smooth, without egrets. 



The principal genus of this sub-family is Athene, which comprises 

 numerous species of small owls distributed throughout the globe. A species 

 inhabiting the island of Cuba, the A. siju, is the smallest of all the owls, 

 and several others found in South America and Mexico are but little 

 larger. 



Three species have been observed in North America, no one of which 

 has yet been found upon the Atlantic seaboard. In California the Athene 

 passerinoides, one of the smallest species, has been observed. It is about 



517. 



