56 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



Order— STRIGES. Family— STRIGID^. 



The Owls. 



THE Owls form a distinct and well-known family of raptorial birds, of 

 somewhat grotesque appearance, which discharge very useful functions in 

 the economy of Nature, as they keep under the mischievous smaller rodents, 

 and prevent their multiplying to an extent that would portend destruction to 

 crops. The typical Owls, such as our English Bam-Owl and Tawny Owl, 

 are nocturnal, roosting throughout the day in places where they can avoid the 

 light, and issuing forth at dusk to commence hunting for their prey which is 

 chiefly active during the night. The Owls are beautifully equipped for the 

 work they have to perform, having large and sensitive eyes, large ears, enabling 

 them to detect the least rustle of a mouse in the grass ; long and rounded 

 ■wings, of soft and broad flight feathers, so that they steal noiselessly upon 

 the unsuspecting prey, and sharp and powerful talons for the fatal pounce. 

 Their heads are large and rounded ; each side of the face is formed of a mask 

 or disk of feathers radiating from the prominent eye, and concentrating upon 

 it every ray of light ; this disk, in the typical Owls, is complete and almost 

 circular, and is bordered by a ruff" of short closely set feathers ; the whole 

 plumage is soft and downy ; the legs and toes are clothed with feathers ; the 

 tail is generally short ; the beak is short, stout, and decurved from the base. 

 Owing to their long and pointed claws Owls are bad walkers, and can only 

 progress upon the ground by awkward leaps ; when they alight upon a flat 

 surface three of their four toes are directed to the front, and the body is 

 bowed forwards to prevent the tail from touching the ground ; when they 

 alight upon a bough or any elevated perch two of the claws, one of which, 

 the outer, is reversible, are turned backwards to aid in the grasp, and the 

 position of the bird is then upright. The cry of Owls consists either of hoots, 

 shrieks, or other notes more or less melancholy and discordant ; they also hiss 

 and snore, and make a sharp sound by snapping their beaks. They make little 

 if any nest, and choose holes in trees or walls, or crannies in cliffs and ruined 

 buildings, or nests of other birds, such as Crows and Magpies, or squirrels' 

 dreys ; or else lay their eggs in rabbits' earths, on the ledges of cliffs, or 



