298 OWL. 



HE bill in this genus is crooked as in the last, but very rarely 

 furnished with a cere. 



Nostrils oblong, covered with bristly feathers. 



Head large ; the usual opening of the ears very spacious. 



Eyes large ; tongue bifid. 



Toes placed three before and one behind, the outer one capable 

 of being occasionally turned backwards. 



The external edge of one, or more, of the greater quills seiTated 

 in most of the species. 



The Owl is a nocturnal bird ; the greater part of them prey by 

 night, or rather twilight, at which time many of the genus appear to 

 distinguish objects best, for having by no means the faculty of 

 perfect vision by day, it may be doubted whether they can see 

 better when the night is very dark, and it is more probable that it is 

 only for an hour in the evening and the morning that they see clearly, 

 except by moonlight, for in such favourable nights they may be 

 observed to hunt after prey without ceasing. The want of sight is 

 in some measure compensated by their quickness of hearing, which 

 their ample ears sutficiently testify. 



Some few of them, however, not only see well by day light, 

 but take their prey at that time, but whether such have the faculty of 

 seeing by twilight is not mentioned. 



It is observed, that in general. Falcons and Owls, and, we 

 believe, Vultures, bring up the indigestible part of their food, such 

 as hairs, feathers, and the like, at intervals, in the shape of large 

 round pellets or balls, which are to be found every where in the 

 neighbourhood of their haunts. 



We must, in this place, confess our suspicions, that more species 

 are here recorded than really exist ; but such as are mentioned by 



