OWLS. 45 



62. The Howlers, — Ulula, — only differ from the preceding 

 owls in the absence of the tufts of feathers, which in common 

 language, are sometimes called horns. 



63. The Screech Owls, — Strix, — resemble owls properly so 

 called in the disposition of their ears, but are distinguished from 

 them by the beak, which is elongated and curved only at the ex- 

 tremity, while in the other nocturnse it is arched from its base. 

 They are without tufts, and instead of feathers, have only hairs on 

 the toes. The common species in France, known as the screech 

 owl (effraie,) is of all the owls, most especially regarded by the 

 people as a bird of evil omen ; its plumage is yellow, shaded 

 with ash colour or brown above, and prettily spotted black 

 and white. It is found in Asia and America as well as in Europe. 



64. The Hooting Owls, — Syrnium, — differ from the screech 

 owls in their auditory conch which is reduced to an oval cavity, 

 that does not occupy the half of the height of the cranium ; their 

 feet are feathered down to the nails. 



65. The Dues, or Horned Owls, — Bubo, — have tufts like the 

 eared owls, and an auditory conch as small as the hooting owls, 

 but they have the disk of feathers around the eyes less 

 marked than the preceding owls. The Grnnd Due, or Great 

 Horned Owl of naturalists, — Stiix bubo, — is about two feet long, 

 and is the largest of all the nocturnae ; it is common in the great 

 forests of the eastern parts of Europe, and is also met with in 

 France. Its food consists ordinarily of moles and small animals 

 of the order rodentia, but we are assured that it sometimes 

 attacks young roe-bucks, and it often contends with buzzards, 

 and carries off their prey. The great horned owl of the United 

 States, — Bubo virginianvs, — which is found in all parts of our 

 country, feeds on the gallinaceous birds, domestic poultry, hares, 

 opossums, &c. 



66. In former times, this owl was employed in falconry to 

 attract the kite ; they tied a fox's tail to the Due to render its 

 figure still more extraordinary ; it flew even with the ground 

 and alighted in the fields without perching on trees ; the kite, 



which perceived it from a distance, came and approached the 

 Due, or Great Horned Owl, not to attack, but rather to examine 

 it, and kept near it long enough to be taken by the hunters or by 

 the birds of prey which they let slip in pursuit. 



62. How do the Howlers differ from Owls properly so called ? 



63. How are Scretcli Owls characterised? 



G4. In what particulars do the Hooting Owls differ from the Screech Owls ? 



65. How are the Horned Owls characterised ? Where is the Great 

 Horned Owl found ? Upon what dees 11 feed ? 



66. In what way was the Great Horned Owl employed in Falconry % 



