102 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. 



The VEILED OWLS (Strix) constitute one of the most remarkable groups of this very 

 important family. Their body is slender, the neck long, the head large and broad, the wings 

 of great size, and the tail of medium length, the legs are high, the plumage silky and very varied in 

 its coloration. The beak is elongate, straight at the base, hooked at its tip, and the under mandible 

 slightly indented. The eye is small and more arched than that of other species ; the ear appears 

 unusually large, owing ,to the long feathers by which it is encircled, and which form a heart-shaped 

 frill around the face , the tarsi are but slightly plumed, and are covered upon the lower portion with 

 fine bristles ; the toes are almost bare, the claws long, thin, and pointed. 



The Veiled Owls are found in all parts of the world, dwelling in populous districts, in and 

 around villages, and when these are not to be found, seeking shelter in hollow trees ; they especially 

 delight in old ruins, and are constantly met with in church steeples, ancient castles, and dismantled 

 towers, as such buildings afford them safe hiding-places until the evening closes in. All the members 

 of this group so closely resemble each other that they might readily be mistaken for one and the 

 same species, and all are equally remarkable for the beauty of their plumage. 



KIRCHHOFF'S VEILED OWL. " 



Kirchhoff's Veiled Owl {Strix Kirchhoffii), discovered by Dr. Brehm whilst in Spain, and 

 called after one of his friends, is so extremely beautiful as to render an adequate description almost 

 impossible. The upper portion of its plumage is of a pretty reddish yellow, mottled with grey upon 

 the shoulders and middle of the back, and delicately spotted with black and white ; the under parts 

 are of dazzling whiteness, and as glossy as the softest satin. The discs of feathers upon the face are 

 spotted and edged with reddish brown. 



THE BARN OWL. 



The Flame Owl, or Barn Owl {Strix flammea), is from twelve to fourteen inches long, and 

 from thirty-six to thirty-nine inches broad ; the wing measures about eleven, and the tail from four 

 and a half to five inches. The upper part of the plumage is dark grey ; the nape and back of the 

 head reddish yellow, delicately marked with tiny black and white streaks; the under side deep 

 reddish yellow, spotted with brown and white ; the long feathers upon the face* are either entirely of 

 uniform reddish white, or become gradually lighter towards the tip ; the quills are rust red upon the 

 inner and whitish upon the outer web, spotted and striped three or four times with dark brown ; the 

 reddish yellow tail-feathers are striped with black, and have a broad dark grey patch, mottled with 

 white at the extremity ; the beak and cere are reddish white ; the bare portions of the foot blueish 

 grey, and the eye dark brown. The female is of a somewhat duskier hue than her mate. 



Old ruins of every description are constantly frequented by these birds, such lofty mountain 

 ranges as are barren of trees they carefully avoid, but in every other situation are more or less 

 frequently met with. The Barn Owls are stationary in their habits, and often remain for years in 

 the same locality, spending the day in some retired nook, and sallying forth at night in quest of 

 prey. Their sleep is extremely light, and, if disturbed, their contortions are amusing to behold, 

 as they rock themselves from side to side upon their legs, and peer blindly at the intruder, expressing 

 their uneasiness by a variety of the most extraordinary grimaces which we can conceive even an 

 Owl's face to be capable of. If very hard pressed they seek safety in flight, and thus prove that 

 they are not so completely blinded by the light as is popularly supposed. When evening sets in 

 their active life commences, and they may then be constantly seen and heard, sweeping slowly 

 about, and uttering their dismal cry at short intervals, as they flit over the ground, or settle for 

 a short time upon the house-tops. Rats, mice, moles, and small birds, as well as the larger kinds 



