ORDER STRIGES. 
HAVE no special qualifications to treat of the SrricEes and ACCIPITRES 
that have been allotted to me as my share in the present work, beyond 
an attachment all my life to the interesting Family of the Owls which has 
led me as far as I could to vindicate their extreme utility to agriculturists, 
and to plead for their protection. An apprenticeship, in a limited extent, to 
the science of Falconry, in my early days, under William Brodrick, taught me 
to appreciate the power of wing and marvellous courage of the Falcons. And, 
having been privileged to correspond for a number of years with the late 
Lord Lilford, a Past Master in everything concerning his favourite Owls and 
Falcons, I have gladly quoted from what he has published of his experiences 
with the birds I have had to describe. 
1897. MURRAY A. MATHEW. 
