86 MANUAL 



Sub-family c "ATHENIN-33 Bird Owls 



Size small ; facial disc very imperfect, or nearly obsolete • 

 tarsi generally partially or but thinly covered with feathers ; 

 head without ear-tufts." These are all small Owls. 



Genera Glancidium, The Pigmy Owls (2 species). 

 Micrathene, The Elf Owl. 

 Speotyto (Spheotyto [wrongly]), The Burrowing Owls (2 species). 



As originally constituted this sub-family contained only Athene, (a syno- 

 nym for Speotyto ; ) and one species of Glaucidium. If we admit Micra- 

 thene as a sub-genera of Glaucidium, which seems to us perfectly justifi- 

 able, we still come within the prescribed limits of the sub-family. 



Sub-family d " NYCTEININiE Day Owls 



General form compact and robust. Head moderate, with- 

 out ear-tufts ; wings and tail rather long ; tarsi strong, which, 

 with the toes, are more densely covered than in any other di- 

 vision of this family." These are large and medium-sized 

 Owls. (Surnia agrees well with Asio in point of size). 



■Genera Nyctea, The Snowy Owl. 



Surnia, The Hawk Owls (2 species). 



We see no reason why, with the above separating distinc- 

 tions, the Family Strigidje should very greatly perplex the 

 student. It surely gives him all the elementary facts for a 

 working classification, at once correct and up to date. Upon 

 this basis he will find it comparatively easy to enlarge his 

 knowledge of the classification of the family, and to add much 

 thereto from his own investigations. 



FAMILY XXX FALCONIDAE THE FALCONS 



HAWKS AND EAGLES 



Latin falco, Greek phalkes ; a falcon. 

 The main distinguishing characters of this family are much 

 the same as in the Sub-order of the Raptoees on page 29. 

 We shall point out the differences in the Sub-families here so 

 fully that there will be little need to enlarge upon the family. 

 It would be a matter of some difficulty, indeed, to do other- 

 wise. As some families are known best bv the individuals 



