526 BIRDS. RAPACIOUS. Owl. 



fhine in the dark, that the animal may then fee with greater clearnefs; during the day they are moft- 

 ly kept {hut, being unable to bear the glare of light, and, though birds of prey, they are then infulted 

 by the fmall birds, when difcovered by them in their retreats : The outermoft wing quill feather is 

 ferrated, or jagged, on each of its edges :' The' claws are much hooked, and very fharp. 



This genus is very conveniently fubdivided into two parcels, which are diftinguifhed by the pre- 

 fence or abfence of a kind of horns or external ears, compofed of feathers : In the firft fubdivihon, 

 , called Eared Owls, or Horned Owls, fome long feathers are erefted round the auditory pafTages ; 

 thefe are fometimes very confpicuous, confuting of a number of confiderable feathers ; at other times 

 they are fcarcely perceptible except when erefted, and confift but of one or two fmall feathers : In 

 the fecond fubdivifion, called Earlefs Owls, thefe appendages are entirely wanting. 



* Eared Owls. 



199 1. Great Owl. — 1. Strix Bubo. 1. 



Of a large fize, and tawny red colour. Faun. fuec. n. 69. Scop. an. i. 18. 



S. Bubo. Lath. ind. orn. i. 51. n. 1. — Bubo. Bellon, av. 25. a. Gefn. av. 234. Aldr. orn. i. 

 502. — Bubo maximus. Ger. orn. i. 84. t. 81. Wirfing. vog. t. 50. — Grand Due. Buff. oif. i. 322. 

 t. 22. PL enl. n. 435. — Gufo. Zinnan. uov. 96". t. 16. f. 85. — Schuffut, Uhu. Frifch. av. t. 93. — 

 Eagle Owl. Brit. zool. n. 64. — Great horned Owl. Alb. av. ii. t. 9, "Will. orn. 99. t. 12. Lewin, 

 <brit. b. i. t. 23. — Great eared Owl. Lath. fyn. i. 116. n. r. fup. 40. 



200 j8. Athenian Great Owl. — 1. /S. S, Bubo athenienfis. 



Is of a fuller, or darker, colour, with blackifh wings, and has flenderer legs. Lath, 

 ind. orn. i. 51. n. 1. /3. 



Bubo italicus. Brill", orn. 140. n. 1. A. Borowfk. nat. ii. 77, — Bubo fecundus. Will. orn. 63.- — 

 Bubo minor, f. B. vulgaris. Ger. orn. i. 85. t. -82. 83. ? — Black-winged horn Owl. Alb. av. iii. 

 t. 6. — Eagle Owl. Will. orn. ang. 99. n. 2. — Athenian horn Owl. Edw. av. t. 227. Lath. fyn. u. 

 118. 



201 y. Snicoth-legged Great Owl. — 1. y. S. Bubo nudipes. 



Refembles the Common Great Owl in every thing, except that the legs are naked. 

 Lath. ind. orn. i. 52. n. 1. y. BrifT. orn. 141. n. 1. b. 



Bubo tertius. Will. orn. 64. — Great horn Owl. Will. orn. ang. 100. n. 3. — Smooth-legged Owl, . 

 Lath. fyn. i. 118. 



202 S. Variegated Great Owl. — 1. <T. S. Bubo variegata. 



The body is blackilh yeilow, variegated with white. Lath. ind. orn. i. 52. n. 1. $.. 



S. Bubo magellanicus. Syft. nat. ed. Gm. 286. n. l. I. — Jacurutu. Marcgr. braf. 199. — Hibou 

 des terres magellaniques. Buff. oif. i. 338. PI. enl. 385. — Magellanic eared Owl. Lath. fyn. i. 118. 



Inhabits Europe, Calmuck Tartary, and South America. — This is the bird of Minerva, or Noctua 

 of the ancients, who ufed the proverb, Nocluas alhams mittere, as we now fay, ' to fend coals to New- 

 caftle.' It haunts the thicken: coverts of the foreft, and holes and caverns of decayed trees, rocks, 

 and. mountains, preying by night on hares, rabbits, moles, rats,, and mice, and feldom on bats'or am- 

 phibious 



