176 



AVES. 



Kig. 80. — Sternum of Howlet. 



There are others very much smaller, — such as 



Str. Tevgmalmi, Gm.— [These have an extended auditory conch, as in the Howlets, like which they are very 

 nocturnal, and unable to endure the light of day. The iYj/c^a/e of Brehni. The species indicated is peculiar to 

 the Eastern Continent, that confounded with it in the fur-countries of North America, Sir. Tengmalmi, 

 Richardson, being- now dedicated to its enterprising discoverer.] 



But the greater number of these small species have only 

 a few scattered hairs on the toes, [and are nearly allied to the 

 true Sums. They are the Athene, Boie]. Such is 



Str. passerina, Gm. [and of British authors; Str. nocfua, Lin.; 

 Athene nocttia, Bonap.] — It nestles in old walls, [and frequently in 

 chimneys, and has been seen to pursue Swallows on the wing. A 

 remarkable exotic species, with very long tarsi, is the 



Str. cutiicii/aria, Molina, or the Biirron'inp Owl, as it has been 

 called ; but which, it is most probable, only appropriates the dwell- 

 ings of burrowing quadrupeds, as the Barn Owl is known to do 

 imder similar circumstances ; the present species inhabiting the open 

 prairies of America, where there are no trees, and abounding in the 

 villages of the Prairie Marmots, as also in the burrows of the Vis- 

 cachas]. 



There are yet other NoctucB vpith uufeatliered toes, which 

 approximate the Howlets in size. Cayenne supplies several fine 

 species, and particularly the three following : — 



Str. cmjennensis, Gm. ; Str. lineata, Shaw, or Str. albomarginaia, 

 SpLx; and Str. torqnata, Daud.— The two first of these equal in size the Tawny Howlet, and the last is 

 still larger. 



Finally, there are some in America, which have the tarsi, in addition to their toes, denuded of 

 feathers ; of which the 

 Str. nudipes, Daud., may be cited in illustration. 



The Scops (Scops, Savigny), — 

 "With ears proportioned to the size of the head, the incomplete disk and naked toes of the preceding, 

 combine aigrettes analogous to those of the Bubows and Hiboux. 

 One inhabits Europe (Sfr. scops, Lin.)— Scarcely larger than a Blackbird, [and there are many others]. 



Some foreign species occur of rather large size, with the legs, as well as the toes, naked. [They 

 constitute the subdivision Ketujia.] Such are 



Str. Ketupa, Tern., ami Str. Leschenaulti, Id., which may possibly prove to be identical. [These Birds are 

 essentially Bubows, with long and naked tarsi, the skin of which corrugates in dry specimens, so as to present 

 somewhat the appearance of being covered with reticulated scales, which is not the case. Their toes are very 

 rough underneath, as in the Ospreys ; and like them they prey chiefly on fish, and sometimes crustaceans. The 

 CuUrunguis of Hodgson apj ears to be a synonyme of this subdivision. 



The great group of Owls falls naturally into three distinct sections, distinguishable at tlie 

 first glance ; and two of these sections comprehend species which differ exceedingly in tlie 

 magnitude of the external ear. 



The first comprises all that are decorated with aigrettes, or what are popularly termed 

 Horned Owls ; as the divisions Nyctea, Bubo, Ketupa, Scops, and Otiis. 



In the second section, the whole of the tuftless species should be brought together, 

 excepting those constituting the subdivision Strix of Savigny. They mainly differ in their 

 degrees of adaptation for nocturnal or semi-diurnal habits. 



'the third is composed of the restricted genus Strix, or the Barn Owls, and is much more 

 distinct from both the others, than the latter are inter se. The aspect of the living bird is 

 very ditferent lu these three primary sections.] 



