THE BARN OWL. 



Strix flammea. Linn. 



The species of Owls for which M. Savigny has retained 

 the generic name of Strix, form a striking contrast to 

 those which compose his genus Noctua, in the great 

 extent of their wide and open ears, and the enlarged 

 radius of their orbital disks. They are destitute of tufts 

 of feathers upon the upper part of the head ; their ears 

 are furnished in front with a broad membranous oper- 

 culum ; their beak, instead of being curved from the 

 very base as in all other Owls, is elongated and be- 

 comes arched only towards the point ; and their legs 

 are covered with slender decomposed feathers, degene- 

 rating into hairs upon the surface of the toes. The 

 singular mask formed by the straio-ht rigid feathers 

 that surround their eyes, which embraces as it were 

 their entire physiognomy, renders them the most extra- 



