ORDER STRIGES, 



I HAVE no special qualifications to treat of the Striges and Accipitres 

 that have been allotted to me as m}^ share in the present work, beyond 

 an attachment all my life to the interesting Family of the Owls which has 

 led me as far as I could to vindicate their extreme utility to agriculturists, 

 and to plead for their protection. An apprenticeship, in a limited extent, to 

 the science of Falconry, in my early days, under William Brodrick, taught nie 

 to appreciate tlie power of wing and marvellous courage of the Falcons. And, 

 having been privileged to correspond for a number of 3-ears with the late 

 Lord Lilford, a Past Master in everything concerning his favourite Owls and 

 Falcons, I have gladly quoted from what he has published of his experiences 

 with the birds I have had to describe. 



1897. MURRAY A. MATHEW. 



