OWL, 



THE bill is crooked, as in the laft, but not furnilhed with a 

 cere. 



Noftrils covered with briftly feathers. 



Head large : both ears and eyes very large. 



Tongue bifid. 

 To which Mr. Pennant * adds : 



Noftrils oblong. 



Outmoft toe capable of being turned backwards. 



Claws hooked and fharp. — To which I may add, that the ex- 

 ternal edge of one or more of the outer quill-feathers is ferrated, 

 in every individual that has come under my infpection. 



The owl is a nocturnal bird, moft of them preying by night, 

 or rather twilight j for, as Buffon -j- obferves, it has neither 

 the faculty of difcerning objects in open day-light, nor can it 

 fee when the night is dark. It is only for an hour in the evening 

 and morning that it fees clearly, except by moon-light -, and 

 in fuch nights as are pretty light they hunt after prey the 

 whole night through. Their want of fight is made good by their 

 quicknefs of hearing ; which their ample ears teftify. 



Their dimnefs of fight in the day-time, can only be faid of the 

 major part of them, fince fome of the fpecies both lee well by 

 day-light, as well as take their prey at that time j but whether 

 thefe have the faculty of feeing by twilight equally well, is not 

 mentioned. 



More need not be faid to identify the genus of Owls, as few 

 can miftake it. 



* Genera of Birds. f HIJl. des Oif. vol. i. p. 317. 



Qj* * E A R E D 



"S 



