220 PHYSIOLOGY AKD HATUBAL HISTOET. 



The nocturnal Raptorial birds forming the family of Strigidae or owls, are 

 divided by Mr. Gray into four sub-families. 



The Surninae, or Hawk owls, have the head small in proportion, without tufts> 

 and with the facial disc imperfect above the eyes. 



The University Museum possesses Surnia Ulula, the hawk owl, a moderate 

 iized species abounding in the fur-countries, and occasionally seen in our district. 



Nyctea Nivea, the Snowy owl, a well known and very handsome bird ; and one 

 example out of several, we might perhaps hope to obtain, of the genus Athene 

 passerinoides, one of the birds popularly confounded under the name of the little 

 owl. 



The sub-family Buboninae, have the head broad and somewhat fiat, with 

 usually two prominent tufts ; the facial disc being imperfect above the eyes. 



The most conspicious example is Bubo Virgivianus, the great Virginian horned 

 owl, one of the larger sized, of very beautiful and characteristic form. Besides this, 

 we have two species of Epkialtes, small owls of interesting character: 



Ephialtes Asio, the American Seops eared ow!, or little screech owl, and 

 Epkialtes Nudipes; the naked footed owl, which latter may probably belong to a 

 different genus. 



The sub-family of the Syrniinae, (the name of which comes too near iu sound to 

 the first,) has the facial disc complete above, the tuft often absent, and when 

 present, of fewer feathers. It affords us two fine species of Syrnium: 



Syrnium einereurn, the great cinereous owl, a magnificient bird inhabiting deep 

 woods, abounding in the fur countries, and occasionally visiting this more southern 

 district, of which the University has recently obtained a pair from Mr. Passmore ; 

 and, 



Syrnium nebuloswn, the barred owl, one of the commonest species in our 

 neighbourhood. 



There are also in the collection two species of Otus : 



Otus Wilsoni, the American long eared owl, which has generally been con- 

 founded with Otus vulgaris, the European long eared owl, but is abundantly 

 distil. ct, and. 



Otus Brachyotus, the short-eared owl, common to both continents. 



The remaining sub-family, consists of the Striginae, Barn owls, a race entirely 

 without tufts, with the facial discs complete, generally of a somewhat triangular 

 figure. 



Not to leave the group without illustration, a European specimen of Strix 

 Flammea, the common barn owl, or white owl, stands with the othera. This 

 species is said to belong to America, as well as Europe, but Audubon, gives reasons 

 for supposing the American form to be distinct, and judging from his fine figure com- 

 pared with the European bird, there is no doubt that he is right. The American 

 specimens have hitherto been found exclusively in the south, whereas the 

 European bird might rather be expected to inhabit more uorthern regions. 

 Eleven f-pecies of owls now in the Univei'.sity Museum, have been procured 

 around Toronto iu a short period, and it may be reasonably hoped that further 

 addition? will be contributed to the collection from the same neighbourhood, as 

 well as from other parts of the Province. 



The University collection contains in almost every instance, a. pair of each 

 species, displaying well the sexual differences in size and plumage. 



W. H. 



