123 
ACCIPITRES. 
GENUS III. 
STRIX -OWL. 
The distinguishing characters of this Ge* 
bus are — 
Bill hooked, without a cere* 
Nostrils covered with bristly recumbent 
feathers. 
Head, auricles, and eyes, large. 
Tongue bifid. 
The pupil of the eye of the Owl is capable 
of great extension, and is furnished with a 
strong nictitating membrane, or semi-trans- 
parent guard, situated beneath the eye-lids, 
and which can at the pleasure of the bird 
be drawn over the pupil of the eye when 
the light is too dazzling. The outer toe 
of this bird is retractile, i. e. it has the 
power of turning it backwards in the manner 
of the Parrot. The; outer quill feather in 
each wing is serrated. 
The greater number of the birds of this 
Genus nestle in the holes of trees, or in soma 
q 2 
