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Nyctea Steph.* 



Bill short, mostly concealed by the frontal plumes, the culmen arched to the tip, which is hooked 

 and acute, the sides compressed ; the nostrils entirely hidden by plumes. Wings rather long, with the 

 third quill the longest. Tail short, broad, and rounded at the end. Tarsi short, thick, and densely 

 plumed. Toes short, stout, and thickly clothed with downy feathers ; the claws very long, curved, and 

 acute. 



The type of this genus is an inhabitant of the arctic circle, migrating to the North of Europe and America. It is 

 usually observed in the open barren places, where it sits on the ground, and, if disturbed, only takes a short flight and 

 again alights, but it sometimes seeks the high trees, especially when watching the hunter, that it may take the oppor- 

 tunity of seizing a portion of his spoil. It hunts principally during the day time, and strikes its prey Avith its foot while 

 on the wing. Its food consists of hares, rabbits, mice, ducks, and grouse, and even carrion. It has been observed to 

 frequent the shores and banks of shallow rivers, over the surface of which it slowly sails, or sits on a stone slightly 

 raised above the water watching the approach of a fish, which it seizes with a sudden and instantaneous stroke of the 

 foot, seldom missing its aim. It builds upon high rocks or on the ground. The female deposits from two to four eggs, 

 of which two only are usually hatched. 



N. nivea (Thunb.) PI. enl. 458., Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 43., Wils. 

 Amer. Orn. pi. 23. f. 1. — Strix nyctea Linn. ; S. Candida Lath. ; 



Nyctea erminea Steph. Le Vaill. Ois. d'Afr. t. 45., Vieill. Ois. d'AmeV. 

 Sept. t. 18., Audub. B. of Araer.pl. 121. 



Athene Boie.\ 



Bill short, partly concealed by the projecting plumes, the sides compressed, the culmen much arched 

 to the tip, which is hooked and acute ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and hidden by the frontal plumes. 

 Wings rather long and rounded, with the third and fourth quills the longest. Tail moderate and nearly 

 even. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, and covered with plumes. Toes short, and covered with scattered 

 hairs ; the claws long, arched, and acute. 



The birds that compose this genus are most generally found in the more genial parts of both hemispheres. They 

 usually remain quiet during the day, but become active as soon as the sun has passed the horizon. It is in ruins, church 

 towers, or caves, or under roofs of houses, and in the thick forests, even to the great height of 17,000 feet above the sea, 

 that they reside. Some species are observed on lofty trees, and fly about actively in the day time ; others prefer the 

 twilight and even the night time to seek their food, which consists of insects, small mammalia, and birds. The insects 

 are, says Mr. Jerdon, sometimes taken on the wing, or snapped off the ground or the trunk of a tree, during their low short 

 undulating flight. They emit cries during the night, and even in the day, from their hiding-places. The nests are 

 concealed in ruins or in the forests. The eggs are usually from two to four in number. 



1. A. noctua (Retz.) PI. enl. 439., Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 48. — 

 Strix passerina Lath. ; Noctua glaux Sav. ; S. nudipes Nils. Edw. 

 Birds, pi. 228. ; Noctua veterum Licht. 



2. A. brama (Temm.) PL col. 68. — Strix indica Frank!. ; 

 Noctua tarayensis Hodgs, 



3. A. cuculoides (Vigors), Proc. Z. S. 1830.8., Gould, Cent, of 

 Birds, pi. 4. 



4. A. erythroptera Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1837. 136. — Strix per- 

 lineata Hodgs. ; S. radiata Tick. ; S. cuculoides Jerd. 



5. A. miribarbis (Hodgs.) Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1837- 36.9. 



* Established by Mr. Stephens in 1825 (Gen. Zool. xiii. 62.). 



t M. Boie established this genus (Isis) in 1822. Carine of M. Kaup (1829), Nyctipetes of Mr. Swainson (1837), and Ninox of Mr. 

 Hodgson (1837) are synonymous with the name employed. It embraces Glaucidium of M. Boie (1826). 



