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fide the head in the manner of horns, and thofe which have the head per- 

 feiflly fmooth. 



In the twelfth edition of the Syftema Nature of Linnjeus, the fpecies of 

 owls amount to no nnore than twelve. Such however have been the rapid 

 advances of ornithology fince that period, that the number of fpecies at pre- 

 fent known is not far Ihort of fifty. 



Of ai! the fpecies the prefent is perhaps the largeft; being not far inferior 

 to an eagle. Its general colour is rufous or ferruginous, beautifully varied with 

 larger and fmailer fpots and markings of brown, black, and cinereous ; to- 

 gether with innumerable freckles or minute fpecklings of the fame colours. It 

 is alfo found of a deeper or lighter hue, according to various circumftances 

 of age and health. The irides are of a bright reddiHi-orange : the beak 

 black : the claws are alfo black, and extreinely large, ftrong, and crooked ; 

 the less are feathered to the claws themfelves. 



In England this fpecies is but rarely feen : it is however fometlmes found, 



and frequents woody and rocky places. In France, Germany,^ and many oth^r 



parts of Europe it is not uncommon. It preys on rabbits, birds, and various 

 animals. 



It is needlefs to obferve that owls in general are regarded in moft coun- 

 tries as birds of ill omen, and fuperftitioully confidered as mefTengers of woe. 

 This apppears to be the cafe in the new world as well as the old, fince the 

 Americans hold the fame opinion. The Athenians alone amongft the ancients, 

 feem to have been free from this popular prejudice, and to have regarded 

 the owl with veneration rather than abhorrence ; confidering it as the favorite 

 bird of Minerva. The fpecies thus venerated, was the fame which we have 

 nilt defcribed : it was probably extremely common in the adjacent regions, as 



it alfo is at this day. 



It 



