STRIGIDA. — CLIV. 261 
427. PANDION Savigny. (savdiov, a name in mythology.) 
825. P. haliaétus (L.). Osprey. Fis Hawk. Dark brown; 
tail grayish with narrow dark bars; head neck and lower parts 
mostly white; 9 with the breast more spotted; feet very large. 
L. 24, W.20. T.10. In most parts of the world, about water, 
an expert fisher. The American bird is var. carolinensis Gmelin. 
(Gr., sea-eagle.) 
Famity CLIV. STRIGIDAM. (Tue Barn Ow1s.) 
A small family including those owls which have long faces, the 
facial disk being complete and subtriangular. All these have the 
sternum entire behind, with a central emargination, the furculum 
grown fast; the middle and inner toes are about equal in length, 
and the middle claw is pectinate below. Genera 2, species 6 or 8, 
chiefly of Asia and Europe. 
a. Wings long, pointed, reaching beyond tail when folded; no ear tufts; tar- 
sus scant-feathered; bill pale; eyes black. . . . . . Srrix, 428. 
428. STRIX Linneus. (Lat. screech-owl.) 
826. S. pratincola Bonaparte. Barn Own. Tawny of 
various shades, very finely mottled, streaked, and dotted with 
darker; below pale, with some spots. L. 17. W. 13. T. 5}. 
N. Am., chiefly §., a handsome, solemn-looking, and fierce little 
owl. (Lat., inhabitant of fields.) 
Famity CLV. BUBONIDAS. (THe Ow 1s.) 
Head very large, shortened lengthwise and greatly expanded 
laterally, the eyes directed forwards and partly surrounded by a 
more or less complete circular disk of radiating feathers of peculiar 
texture; loral feathers antrorse, long and dense; feathers on the 
sides of forehead often elongated into ear-like tufts. Plumage very 
soft and lax, rendering the flight almost noiseless ; its colors blended 
and mottled so as to baffle description. External ear very large, 
often provided with a movable flap. Outer toe reversible; claws 
very sharp, long, and strong; inner toe shorter than middle; mid- 
dle claw not pectinate. Sternum double notched or fenestrate; 
furculum free. Eggs nearly spherical, pure white. Chiefly noc- 
turnal. Sexes colored alike, Q usually the larger. Owls are 
found in every part of the globe, and most of the species have a 
wide range. Their habits are too well known to need description 
here. 
w. Tarsus fully feathered. 
®, Eye in the centre of a nearly complete circular disk; external ear larger 
than eye, with a well developed opercle. 
¢. Ear-tufts present, sometimes very short ; cere longer than rest of cul- 
men; irisyellow. . . 6 6 ee 6 eee 4 ~ ASIO, 429, 
