282 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



Owls. 



Family STRIGID/E (OWLS). 

 The birds of this family have large heads, and great 

 projecting eyes directed forwards, and surrounded 

 by a circle or disc, more or less developed, formed 

 of loose and delicate feathers, the margin consist- 

 ing of feathers of a firmer texture and more defi- 

 nite outline. The beak is hooked and raptorial ; 

 the claws are curved, sharp, and retractile ; and 

 the outer toe is versatile, in order to strengthen the 

 grasp. The plumage is full and soft, generally 

 spotted, barred, and clouded with different shades 

 of tawny, brown, and yellow. Many species have 

 the top of the head garnished with elongated 

 plumelets, or tufts, capable of being erected or de- 

 pressed ; they rise from the margin of the disc over 

 each eye, and are commonly, but of course erro- 

 neously, called ears or horns. See Fig. 1287, the 

 Head of the Common Barn-Owl, exhibiting the 

 facial disc; Fig. 1288, Head of the Horned- Owl, 

 showing the tufts ; Fig. 1289, the Foot of the Barn- 

 Owl. In Fig. 1290, a represents one of the Feathers 

 of Disc, magnified. 



The owls, some few excepted, are crepuscular 

 and nocturnal in their habits ; they come forth with 

 the dusk of evening to prowl for food ; they win- 

 now the air with silent pinions, their ears attentive 

 to every slight sound, and their eyes quick to dis- 

 cern their creeping prey, on which they glide with 

 noiseless celerity. 



The organic endowments of these nightly ma- 

 rauders are in admirable concordance with their 

 destined mode of life. Let us look at the common 

 barn-owl as a type of the family. The eyes, we 



• observe, are large and staring, but they are incapa- 

 ble of bearing the strong light of day ; the iris is 

 irritable, and the pupil almost completely con- 

 tracted ; the lids are half closed, and the membrana 

 nictitans almost constantly drawn over the ball, like 



.a delicate curtain ; but when twilight sets in, the 



eyes display a very different appearance — the lids 

 are wide open, the curtain is folded back, the pupil 

 is widely dilated, and they gleam with lustrous 

 effulgence. In all British birds, and, we believe, as 

 a general rule, the bony ring of the eyeball is con- 

 vex externally ; but in the owls it is concave, and 

 lengthened — the transparent cornea being placed, 

 ■as it were, at the end of a tube, the whole resem- 

 bling the glass used by watchmakers. Fig. 1291 

 ■represents, 1, the bony ring of the Snowy-Owl : 

 -2, the crystalline lens of the same bird; a, the 

 anterior surface, less convex than the posterior one. 

 The facial disc of feathers materially aids vision 

 by concentrating the rays of light. Mr. Yarrell 

 observes that the extent of vision enjoyed by the 

 falcons is probably superior to that of the owla, but 

 that the more spherical lens and corresponding 

 cornea give to the eyes of the latter an intensity 

 better suited to the opacity of the medium in which 

 their power is required to be exercised. They may 

 be compared to the eyes of " a person near-sighted, 

 who sees objects with superior magnitude and bril- 

 liancy when within the prescribed limits of his 

 natural powers of vision from the increased angle 

 these objects subtend." 



We have previously said that birds have no ex- 

 ternal ears, but in the owls, whose sense of hearing 

 is exquisite, and who listen for their prey, we find 

 an exception to the general line. If we part the 

 feathers forming the back part of the rim of the 



• disc, we shall find the large auditory orifice enclosed 

 between two valves of thin skin, from the edges of 

 which proceed the feathers in question. The leaves 

 of this double valve are capable of being thrown 

 wide apart, so as to concentrate as well as admit 

 every slight vibration, the effect of which is in- 

 creased by the widely-diffused cavities connected 



with the internal chambers. The drum of the ear 

 is very thin and transparent, and its vibrations are 

 conveyed to those winding hollows called the laby- 

 rinth, by a single ossiculum, as in reptiles. In order 

 to distend, support, or relax the drum, there is a 

 cartilaginous organ stretching from the side of the 

 passage almost to the middle of the membrane, while 

 there is another cartilage divided into three branches, 

 of which the middle one being the longest, is joined to 

 the top of the cartilaginous organ before mentioned 

 (see Fig. 1292), and assists in bearing up the external 

 membrane (the drum). The cartilage joins the top of 

 the ossiculum or columella, which is a very fine, 

 light, bony tube, the bottom of which expands into a 

 plate, fitting into the foramen ovale (the entrance to 

 the labyrinth), to which it is braced all round by very 

 slender muscles. Figs. 1290 and 1293 represent 

 the external Ear of the Owl ; Fig. 1294, the Head 

 of a young Barn-Owl. The head is so turned as to 

 expose the auditory passage and valvular ossiculum. 

 a, the cranium ; b, the nostril on the beak ; c, the 

 neck ; d, the eye ; e, the termination of the exter- 

 nal skin surrounding the orifice of the ear ; /, the 

 anterior flap or opercular fold of the ear; g, part 

 of the tympanic or quadrate bone ; h, membrana 

 tympani, or drum of the ear. 



From the loose texture of their soft full plumage, 

 and from the laxity of the quill-feathers (of which 

 the outer edges are fringed by a pectinated line of 

 delicate lashes, the terminations of the barbs), the 

 flight of the owl, though buoyant and easy, is by no 

 means distinguished for velocity, like that of the 

 falcon ; tne wings gently fan the air ; they present 

 no rigid edges ; they do not cut it with the 

 whistling stroke of the pinions of the hawk or dove ; 

 no rustling sound is heard as the owl skims lightly 

 by ; and in accordance with this condition of the 

 plumage and feathers of the wing, is the develop- 

 ment of the sternum and its appendages. Variation 

 of course exists in different species, but the keel 

 (see Fig. 1295) is less deep and projects less for- 

 ward than in the falcon ; the fnrcula is less arched, 

 more slender and more distinctly triangular ; and 

 the coracoid or clavicular bones are less robust and 

 straighter; the whole is less solid and expansive. 

 Fig. 1296 represents the skull of the Strix otus, 

 showing the orbit, and, below it, a, the large audi- 

 tory orifice. 



The owls prey on living animals : the larger 

 species on hares, rabbits, birds, &c. ; the smaller 

 on mice, moles, rats, and reptiles. 



1297, 1298.— The Barn-Owe 



(Strix fiammea). This is the Effraie, Fresaie, and 

 Petit Chathuant Plombe of the French; Barba- 

 gianni, Alloco Commune e Bianco, of the Italians ; 

 Sehleierkauz, Perlschlierkautz, and Perl-Eule of 

 the German; De Kerkuil of the Netherlands; 

 Barn-Owl, White Owl, Church-Owl, Gillihowlet, 

 Howlet, Madge Howlet, Madge Owl, Hissing Owl, 

 and Screech Owl of the modern British; and 

 Dylluan wen of the ancient British. 



This beautiful bird is spread throughout the tem- 

 perate and warmer regions of Europe. It is common 

 in England and Ireland, but less so in Scotland ; in 

 the high northern latitudes of the Continent it is 

 not known. The barn-owl conceals itself during 

 the day in deep recesses among ivy-clad ruins, in 

 antique church-towers, in the hollow of old trees, 

 in barn-lofts, and similar places of seclusion. At 

 night it sallies forth for prey, which consists of mice, 

 rats, moles, and shrews, but, we believe, never birds. 

 Hence it is persecuted by the farmer in vain, who 

 suspects that it thins his 'dovecot, and little knows 

 the extent of the services which the bird renders to 

 him. " If," says Mr. Waterton, " this useful bird 

 caught its food by day, instead of hunting for it by 

 night, mankind would have ocular demonstration 

 of its utility in thinning the country of mice, and it 

 would be protected and encouraged everywhere. 

 When it has young it will bring a mouse to the nest 

 every 12 or 15 minutes "(that is during the night) ; 

 and he adds, " formerly I could get very few young 

 pigeons till the rats were excluded from the dove- 

 cot ; since that, took place it has produced a great 

 abundance every year, though the barn owl fre- 

 quents it, and is encouraged all round it ;" and he 

 affirms that the pigeons neither regard it " as a bad 

 or suspicious character." 



Mr. Thompson (' Mag. Zool. and Botan.,' vol. ii. 

 p. 178), observes that " the white (bam) owl is a 

 well-known visitor to the dovecot, — and in such a 

 place, or rather a loft appropriated to pigeons, in 

 the town of Belfast, I am informed by an observant 

 friend, that a pair once had their nest ; this con- 

 tained four young, which were brought up at the 

 same time with many pigeons. The nests contain- 

 ing the latter were on every side, but the owls 

 never attempted to molest either the parents or 

 their young. As maybe conjectured, the owl's nest 

 was frequently inspected during the progress of the 

 young birds ; on the shelf beside them never less 

 than' six, and often 15 mice and young rats (no 

 birds were ever seen) have been observed, and this 

 was the number they had left after the night's re- 

 past. The parent owls, when undisturbed, remained 

 all day in the pigeon-loft." In further proof, it may 

 be urged, that the remains of rats, mice, and occa- 

 sionally beetles, have been found, to the exclusion 

 of feathers, in the stomachs of most owls when ex- 

 amined Such remains were found in the stomachs 

 of all those opened by Mr. Thompson, and of such 

 are the pellets cast by the owls invariably com- 

 posed.* The owl quarters the ground for food with 

 great regularity, and drops upon it with unerring 

 aim Selby says it occasionally utters loud screams 

 during its flight ; and Mr. Yarrell says it screeches 

 but does not generally hoot. But Sir Wm. Jardme 

 asserts that he shot one in the act of hooting, and 

 that at night, when not alarmed, hooting is its 

 general cry. It snores and hisses, and when annoyed 

 snaps its bill loudly. 



The barn-owl constructs a rude nest; the eggs 

 are three or four in number, and of a white colour, 

 and, strange to say, the female often lays a second 

 time before the young are able to leave the nest— 



* The owl and all the hawk tribe cast up the indigestible parts of 

 their prey, as bones, feathers, hair, claws, &c, in the torn, ot pel ets ; 

 and in the Ion-tenanted haunt of an owl these greatly accumulate. 



hence young owls have been found late in the 

 autumn, and even in December. Mr. Blyth, in the 

 • Field-Naturalist's Magazine ' (vol. i.), says, " Anest 

 of the barn-owl in this neighbourhood (Tooting) 

 contained two eggs ; and when these were hatched 

 two more were laid, which were probably hatched 

 by the warmth of the young birds ; a third laying 

 took place after the latter were hatched : and the 

 nest at last contained six young owls, of three dif- 

 ferent ages, which were alt reared." 



The plumage of the barn-owl is very beautiful ; 

 the upper parts are bright yellowish, varied with 

 grey and brown zigzag line's, and sprinkled with 

 a multitude of small whitish dots ; face and throat 

 white ; lower parts in some individuals rusty white, 

 sprinkled with small brown dots ; in others bright 

 white, marked with small brownish points ; in others 

 again, without the slightest appearance of spots; 

 feet and toes covered with very short down ; iris 

 yellow\ Length about thirteen inches ; no horn-like 

 tufts. 



In the female all the tints are brighter. The 

 young are covered with a thick white down, and re- 

 main long in the nest. 



1299.— The Ural Owl 

 (Surnia Uralensis). Strix Uralensis, Pallas; La 

 Chouette des Monts Urals, Sonnini ; Die Ural 

 Habichtseule, Bechstein. 



This rare species is a native of the arctic regions 

 of the Old World, Lapland, the north of Sweden, 

 Norway, Russia, Hungary, and Japan. It is occa- 

 sionally seen in Germany. 



In the Ural owl the tail is long, and far exceeds 

 the tips of the folded wings ; the tarsi are rather 

 short and robust. Leverets, rats, mice, grouse, 

 ptarmigans, and other birds, are the prey of this 

 species. It constructs its nest in the hollows of 

 decayed trees, often, it is said, near the dwellings of 

 man ; the eggs are three or four in number, and of 

 a pure white. The head of this owl is of consider- 

 able size ; the facial disc large, and of a greyish 

 white marked with some blackish hairs ; the mar- 

 ginal circle of the disc is composed of white fea- 

 thers spotted with brownish black. Top of the head, 

 nape, back, and wing-coverts, marked with great 

 longitudinal spots disposed on a whitish ground ; 

 all the under parts whitish", marked in the middle 

 of each feather with a large longitudinal stripe of 

 brown. Quill and tail feathers banded with brown 

 and white alternately; seven bands on the tail. 

 Beak yellow, nearly hidden in the long hairs of the 

 face. Iris brown ; tarsi and toes covered with hairs 

 of a white colour freckled with brown ; claws very 

 long, and yellowish. Total length about two feet. 



1300.— The Hawk-Owl 

 (Surnia funerea). This is the Strix Ulula, Linn. ; 

 Strix funerea, Gmel., Forst. ; Strix Hudsonia, 

 Gmel. ; Strix Canadensis et Freti Hudsonis, Briss. ; 

 Strix Hudsonia, Wils. ; Strix nisoria, Meyer ; Chou- 

 ette de Canada et Chouette Eperviere, ou Capara- 

 coch, and Chouette k loilgue queue de Slberie, 

 Buffon ; (Eul 463, a very good figure of this species, 

 under the erroneous name of the Ural mountains 

 Owl ;) Chouette Eperviere, Sonn. ; Sperbereule, 

 Meyer, Naum. ; Habichtseule, Bechst. ; Plattkop- 

 fige and Hochkoptige Habichtseule, Brehm. ; Hawk- 

 Owl of Pennant and Wilson ; Little Hawk-Owl of 

 Edwards ; Canada Owl of Latham ; Paypaw thee- 

 cawsew or Cobadecootch of the Cree Indians ; 

 Theechazza of the Copper Indians and Chepewyans ; 

 and Ood no haaoot of the Esquimaux. 



The Hawk-Owl is a native of the arctic regions 

 of both continents ; it sometimes appears in Germany 

 during the winter retiring northward on the return 

 of spring. It seldom visits France ; and though one 

 settled and was taken on board a collier vessel a 

 few miles off the coast of Cornwall, in 1830, it does 

 not appear to have been ever seen within the shores 

 of our island. Wilson says that this species is rare 

 in Pennsylvania and the more southern of the 

 United States, its favourite range being along the 

 borders of the arctic regions, making occasional 

 excursions southward when compelled by severity 

 of weather, and consequent scarcity of food. The 

 facial disc of the hawk-owl is very limited ; its 

 head is comparatively small, and the face narrow, 

 approaching in resemblance to that of some of the 

 Harriers (Circus). It preys moreover by day, its 

 eyes being adapted for a dull light, and its flight is 

 steady. From these circumstances it has obtained 

 its English appellation. Fig. 1301 represents the 

 Head in profile. From the writer alluded to, we 

 learn that it is bold and active, and will follow the 

 fowler, carrying off his game as soon as shot. 



According to Dr. Richardson, the Hawk-Owl re- 

 mains all the winter in high northern latitudes, and 

 is rarely seen so far south as Pennsylvania, and then 

 only in severe winters. Wilson saw only two speci- 

 mens in the United States. It is a common species 

 throughout the Fur-countries, from Hudson's Bay 

 to the Pacific, and is more frequently killed than 



