244 
OWLS. 
In their habits, the Owls may he generally 
termed arboreal, the dark recesses of the forest or 
wooded.rocks affording coyer from the too strong 
light of day. From these retreats they can make 
excursions in twilight, either to the outskirts or to 
the more open glades. A few species are marked 
by the peculiarity of their selecting the refuge 
afforded by ruined buildings during the day ; and 
in almost all countries, one at least Is known as 
delighting in such retreats. One British bird, and 
a few foreign species, do inhabit countries where 
wood is scarce, or totally wanting ; but their day 
retreats are either among the crevices of rocks, or 
in the burrows of some animals. 
The eggs are of a rounded form, and are always 
nearly pure white, in some assuming a slight 
greenish tinge as among the Harriers ; see 
PLATE XXV. 
Eggs of Harriers and Orels. 
The geographical distribution of the birds which 
belong to the British Fauna is extensive. The 
common White Owl reaches the North American 
continent, perhaps also to that of India, while it 
seems represented in all the other quarters of the 
world by some bird nearly allied in size and 
colouring, but of which the specific distinctions 
