ALUC0NIB2E: BABN OWLS. 



601 



be called Aluconidm, instead of Strigida; ; which latter name is to be applied to the succeeding 

 family. 

 160. ALU'CO. (Ital. aZoc/iO, some Idnd of owl. Figs. 47, 351.) Barn OwL.s. To above characters 

 add : Wings very long, pointed, folding beyond the tail, the 1st or 2d primary longest, and none 

 einarginate. Tail short, nearly even or emarginate, about i as long as the i\-ing. Tarsus nearly 

 twice as long as middle toe without claw, closely feathereil, tlie jdumage becoming scant and 



Pig. 351. — Barn Owls, J nat. size. (From Brcbm ) 



" From yonder ivy-mantled tower, 

 The moping owl does to the moon com plain 

 Of such, as wand'ring near her secret hower. 

 Molest her ancient solitary reign." — Gray. 



bristly below, like that on the nearly naked toes, and reversed in direction on the posterior 

 aspect; claws extremely long and acute (see fig. 47). Bill lengthened, compressed, the core 

 nearly as long as the rest of the culmen ; nostrils oval ; no plumieorns ; eyes comparatively 

 small, black ; bUl light- colored; plumage flagrant, not dichromatic ; size medium. One North 

 Am. species. 



