43 RAPACES. STRIX. 
spotted with white. ‘Throat white. Breast and under 
parts yellowish-white, with broad, oblong, brown streaks, 
Tail dusky, with seven or eight yellowish-white, or pale 
reddish-brown bars. 
The young are similar in plumage to the female bird. 
Genus II. OWL. STRIX, Linn. 
GENERIC CHARACTERS. 
Bill hooked, compressed, bending from its base, which is 
covered with a cere. Nostrils oblong, lateral, situated on the 
inner margin of the cere, covered, as well as the greater part 
of the bill, by stiff reflected bristly feathers. Head large, 
face flat, and surrounded by a border of small closely set fea- 
thers. Eyes large, with a nictitating membrane, and sur- 
rounded by a circle of radiating feathers. Toes, three be- 
fore, and one behind, entirely divided, and the outer one re- 
versible. Claws hooked, and very sharp. Plumage soft and 
downy. Wings having the exterior”: margin of the outer 
quill-feather serrated ; the third feather being the longest. 
In a systematic arrangement, the owls, from their resem- 
blance in form, and alliance in character to the Falcon genus, 
naturally follow them in the order of Rapacious Birds. ‘The 
greater part of this genus (Striv) are nocturnal, or rather 
crepuscular birds of prey, sallying forth from their concealed 
retreats towards the close of day, when other birds are retir- 
ing to roost ; but when the animals, which form their princi- 
pal food, are quitting their holes, to feed in expected security 
during the silence and darkness of the approaching night. 
Some of the species are, however, capable of bearing the light 
of day; these pursue their prey in the same manner as the 
falcons, and in these also a nearer approach to that genus is 
observable, in the smaller size of the head, the dimensions of 
the eye, and the comparative length of the wings and tail. 
The eye and ear of the owl are boa admirably adapted to 
