ACCIPITRES. 249 
feathers is smaller, and less perfect than in the Bubo, Cuv. Their 
relations to the diurnal birds of prey are very evident, even in their 
habits. 
Some of them are remarkable for along, cuneiform tail, and have 
the toes thickly clothed with feathers; they are the Surnia, Dumer. 
It appears that there exist in all the North some closely allied spe- 
cies or varieties, but imperfectly distinguished under the names of 
Str. funerea, hudsonia, uralensis, accipitrina, &c. 
The best known species, Str. nisoria, Wolf.; Enl. 473; Naum. 
42. 2, from the north of the whole globe, is about the size of 
the Sparrowhawk; blackish brown above, with small white 
spots on the head, which form transverse bars on the scapulars; 
transversely striped with brown and white beneath, with ten 
transverse white lines on the tail. It hunts more during the 
day than the night. 
The species from the Uralian mountains, Str. uralensis, Pall. 
"Naum. 42, 1, is nearly as large as the Harfang; brown, with white 
spots, above; white, with long brown spots, beneath; five trans- 
verse grey bands onthe tail. It also hunts during the day, and 
is sometimes seen in Germany. It is probably the Hybris or 
Ptynzx of Aristotle, 1. ix, c. 12. 
The species, called of Acadia, Str. acadica, Naum. 43, f. } 
and 2; Wils. Am. IV, xxxiv, 1, is also sometimes found there, 
but it belongs to the whole north of the globe. It is thé'small- 
est of the Ululz, and is hardly larger than the Common Finch. 
It does not fear the light of day, but Vaillant has described one 
of these Surnie from Africa, (Choucou, No. xxxviii,) all white 
beneath, with fourteen or fifteen lines on the tail, and which, 
according to his account, is more nocturnal than the other 
Ulule. 
There are other Noctue which have a short tail and feathered 
toes. The largest, and in fact the largest of all the nocturnal birds 
without tufts, is 
Str. nyctea, L.; Le Harfang, Enl. 458; Wils. IV, xxxii, 1; 
Naum. 41. (The Snowy Owl.) This bird almost equals the 
Grand Duc in size. Its snow-white plumage is marked with 
transverse brown spots, which disappear with age. It inhabits 
the north of both continents, builds upon high rocks, and pur- 
sues Hares, Grouse, &c.(1) 
There are some smaller species, such as 
Str. tengmalmi, Gm.; Str. dasypus, Bechst.; Naum. 48, f. 2 
Ls 
(1) The Chouette blanche, Vaill. Afric. 45, is only an old Harfang. The alleged 
_ difference in the proportions depends upon the stuffing. 
Vor. .—2°G / 
