CAROLINA PARROT, 405 



Venice, Butler Co., Ohio ; Mr. Bichards pointing oat the identical sycamores in -whioh 

 they had nested mtoy years ago." 



Finally, the late Wm. S. Sullivant, L L.D., a well informed ornitho- 

 logist, as well as eminent botanist, who was well acquainted with 

 these birds in earlier years, informed me that in Jul^, 18fi2. a flock 

 numbering from twenty-five to thirty made their appearance in the 

 Capitol Square of this city and remained in the elm trees opposite his 

 residence for a couple of hours, greatly to his enjoyment and the delight 

 of numerous small boys. 



According to Audubon, the Parroquet nested in natural cavities of trees, 

 the compliment of eggs being two. This was not accurately deter- 

 mined for the reason that more than one female was believed to occupy 

 the same nest. He describes the eggs as greenish- white. Dr. Brewer 

 describes an egg as of a rounded oval form, dull white color, measuring 

 1.40 by 1.10. 



ORDER RAPTORES. BIRDS OF PREY. 



FAMILY STRIGIDiE. OWLS. 



Feet highly raptorial, with large, strong, sharp, curved contractile claws adapted for 

 grasping. Hallux perfectly incumbent, lengthened (more than half as long as the fourth 

 toe), with large claw. Front toes with slight basal webbing between outer and middle 

 toe, or none. Nostrils imperforate. Bill short, stout, not notably contracted in its conti- 

 nuity, with strongly hooked tip. Head feathered wholly or in greatest part. Lower 

 larynx developed with one pair of muscles. Coeca present, as a rule, if not always. 



Physiognomy peculiar by reason of great lateral expansion and lengthwise shortening 

 of the cranium, causing the eyes to be directed forward. Eyes surrounded by a disc of 

 radiating bristly feathers, in front closely appressed to and hiding the base of the bill, 

 elsewhere bounded by a rim of differently formed feathers. Tomia never toothed or 

 lobed. Nostrils usually at the edge of the cere. Outer toe completely versatile, shorter 

 than inner toe. Basal phalanx of middle toe not longer than tbe second, and much 

 shorter than the next. Legs commonly feathered or bristly to or on the toes. Plumage 

 peculiarly soft and lax, without after-shafts ; flight perfectly noiseless. Cranial walls 

 widely separated by intervention of spongy diploe. Sternum oomnaonly doubly notched. 

 Chiefly nocturnal. 



Gbnus STRIX. Linn sens. 



No ear tufts ; facial disc highly developed, not circular ; ears very large, operculate. 

 Tarsi long, scant feathered, bristly below like the nearly naked toes. Middle claw 

 Qsnally serrate or jagged. Plumage downy. 



