Order! ACCIPITRES. 



,:, 



The third Family, 



STRIGID^, or Owls, 



have the Bill short, the sides compressed, the base concealed by the projecting bristles, and the culmen 

 much arched to the tip, which is hooked ; the Wings usually moderate and rounded ; the Tail broad 

 and of various length ; the Tarsi generally short, and feathered to the toes ; Toes usually short, and either 

 clothed with plumes or slightly covered with hairs ; the claws long and very acute. The eyes large, and 

 encompassed with a radiated circle of slender hairy feathers, forming a facial disk. 



The first Subfamily, 



SURNENLE, or Hawk-Owls, 



have the head small, without tufts, and the facial disk imperfect above the eyes. 



Surnia Dum.* 



Bill short, mostly hidden by the projecting plumes, compressed on the sides, the culmen much arched 

 to the tip, which is hooked and acute ; the nostrils entirely concealed by the plumes. Wings long and 

 pointed, with the third quill the longest. Tail lengthened, broad, and wedge-shaped. Tarsi short, and 

 closely plumed. Toes short, the lateral ones unequal, and all densely clothed with plumes ; the claws 

 long, curved, and acute. 



It is in the northern parts of Europe and America, and the southern parts of Africa, that these birds are found. They 

 seek their food, which chiefly consists of mice, birds, and insects, mostly in the day time ; but, during the winter, those 

 of the northern latitudes feed principally on ptarmigans, and are said to follow the hunter for the purpose of seizing the 

 birds that have been shot by him. They build their nest on trees, and it is composed of sticks, grass, and feathers. The 

 female lays generally two eggs. 



1. S. ulula (Linn.) Pr. Bonap. PI. enl. 463., Gould, B. of Eur. 



pi. 45. — Strix funerea Gmel. ; S. doliata Pall. ; S. canadensis et S. 

 Freti Hudsonis Briss. ; S. hudsonia Gmel. Wils. Amer. Orn. pi. 50. 

 f. 6. ; S. nisoria Meyer ; S. arctica Spar. ; Surnia borealis Less. 

 Audub. B. of Amer. pi. 378. 



2. S. choucou (Lath.) Less. Le Vaill. Ois. d'Afr. t. 38. - 

 africana Shaw. 



3. S. nisuella (Lath.) Less. Le Vaill. Ois. d'Afr. t. 39. 



Established by Duraeril in 1806. 



