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Genus NYCTEA. 



Stria apud Linnseus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 132 (1766). 



Noctua apud Cuvier, Regne An. i. p. 332 (1817). 



Nyctea, Stephens in Shaw's Gen. Zool. xiii. pt. 2, p. 62 (1826). 



Symium apud Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 59 (1829). 



Surma apud Selby, 111. Brit. Orn. i. p. 95 (1833). 



Nyctia apud Swainson, Classif. of B. ii. p. 217 (1837). 



This genus contains a single species (Nyctea scandiaca), which inhabits the northern portions of 

 the Palsearctic and Nearctic Regions, breeding in the high north, and migrating south during the 

 winter. Full particulars of its habits and nidification are given in the following article. 



This bird, which is consequently the type of the genus, has the beak moderate in size, 

 decurved from the base, the lower mandible notched ; nostrils large, oval, placed in the anterior 

 part of the cere, which is short ; bill nearly concealed by long, close, stiff feathers ; facial disk 

 incomplete ; head large, round, without visible ear-tufts ; orifice of ear moderate, without oper- 

 culum ; wings moderately long, broad, and full, the first quill about equal to the fifth, the third 

 longest ; tail moderate, nearly even or slightly rounded ; legs and feet closely covered with long 

 hair-like feathers ; claws rather long, moderately curved, acute. 



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