111! 



the speed of the elements themselves ; unawed by any- 

 thing but man ; and from the etherial heights to which 

 the eagle soars, looking abroad at one glance on an 

 immeasurable expanse of forests, fields, lakes, and 

 ocean, deep below him ; he appears indifferent to the 

 little localities of change of seasons, and can pass at 

 will from summer to winter, dashing upwards from his 

 eyrie in the mountain to that abode of eternal cold the 

 higher regions of the atmosphere, and again descend to 

 the torrid or arctic regions of the earth. We now ap- 

 proach the numerous and most solemn family of the 

 owls (Strigidie); most of these are remarkable for the 



radiated circles of feathers surrounding their eyes, and 

 for their large ears, which as they hunt in the dark may 

 enable them to discover their prey by the sense of hear- 

 ing when not within the range of tlieir imperfect vision. 

 Whilst the owls are altogether most remarkable birds, 

 the horned owls are even more so than any others of 

 this winged race. They are spread 

 over the whole of Europe, and ap- 

 pear to be everywhere stationary ; 

 at least such is the case in our own 

 island, where they inhabit barns, 

 ruins, churcji-towers, and hollow 

 trees, remaining concealed all day, 

 but issuing at the approach of even- 

 ing, when they prowl on light and 

 noiseless wings, in search of their 

 prey, night being the time when 

 this genus exert their powers and 

 display their destructive energies. 

 Although mice form the principal 

 part of their subsistence, it is ne- 

 vertheless certain that they occasionally prey on young 

 birds, rats, and leverets; and instances have been 

 known of tlieir even committing serious havoc amongst 

 the finny tribe. 



That magnificent bird, which we see yonder, in case 

 forty, belongs to the genus Trogon, and is well worthy 

 of the adjunct, " Resplendent," which has been appended 

 to it. I'heir feet are often feathered almost to the toes, 

 rd their soft, full, lax plumaee. and lengthened tail, 



