URAL OWL. 133 
Linnaeus and Cuvier, and after them Temminck, formed but one 
genus of these birds in their systems of classification. Modern orni- 
thologists have divided them into at least eleven. Without any change 
in my opinion as to the true scientific value of this splitting up of 
genera, expressed in the first edition, I have thought it best to make 
the nomenclature I use as much as possible in accordance with other 
works on ornithology, and in fact in general use among ornithologists. 
I have adopted this plan in the preceding pages, and shall carry it 
out through the work. 
Professor Newton, in his edition of Yarrell now publishing, has 
adopted a new system of classifying the Owls which is formed in 
the work of Dr. Sclater and Mr. Salvin. This classification is 
founded upon — 
(a) A division of the family into those which have the hinder 
margin of the sternum characterized by two or more clefts, which is 
by far the most common. 
(5) Those in which the margin of the sternum is sinuated entirely 
or slightly so. 
The first division is further subdivided into (c) Owls which possess 
an operculum, and (eT) those which do not. 
This arrangement throws our old friend the Barn Owl out of the 
genus Strix, of which it has of late years been the sole European 
representative, and into that of Aluco, while the Tawny takes its 
place, and Tengmalm's Owl and the Long and Short-eared Owls will 
come under different genera in the same group. I only allude to this 
arrangement here. Before another edition of this work is called for 
the scientific world may have become agreed how to arrange them. 
The Ural Owl is a native of the Arctic regions. It is common in 
Lapland and the Ural Mountains. According to Meisner, as quoted 
by Temminck, it inhabits, though in small numbers, the cantons of 
Berne and the Soleure; and M. Michaelles has reported its having 
been several times killed in the environs of Salzbourg. It is found 
in the north of Sweden, is not uncommon in Livonia and Hungary, 
and is seen rarely in the eastern parts of Germany. It seems to be 
pretty nearly confined to these districts, occurring very accidentally in 
any other part of the world. 
"The Ural Owl," says "The Old Bushman" in his "Ten Years in 
Sweden," "is certainly the rarest of all Scandinavian Owls, and never 
appears to go so far north as the Lap Owl. It is rarely, however, 
met with in the south of the country., In April, 1864, I shot a 
remarkably fine female in South Wermland, and I do not think it was 
ever killed so far south before. I do not believe it is met with in 
