44 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
cant geftures, turning its head, its eyes, and its bo- 
dy with all the appearance of mockery and affecta- 
tion. All the fpecies of Owls, however, are not 
alike dazzled and confufed with the light of the 
fun, fome of them being able to fly and fee diftinCt- 
ly in open day. 
NoCturnal birds of prey are generally divided in- 
to two kinds — thofe which have horns or ears, and 
thofe which are earlefs or without horns ; thefe 
horns confifl of fmall tufts of feathers handing up 
like ears on each fide of the head, which may be 
ereCted or depreffed at the pleafure of the animal ; 
and in all probability are of ufe in directing the or- 
gans of hearing, which are very large, to their pro- 
per objeCt. Both kinds agree in having their eyes 
fo formed as to be able to purfue their prey with 
much lefs light than other birds. The general 
character of the Owl is as follows : The eyes are 
large, and are furrounded with a radiated circle of 
feathers, of which the eye itfelf is the center ; the 
beak and talons are ftrong and crooked ; the body 
very fliort, but thick, and well covered with a coat 
of the fofteft and molt delicate plumage ; the ex- 
ternal edges of the outer quill feathers in general 
are ferrated or finely toothed, which adds greatly 
to the fmoothnefs and filence of its flight. 
We fhall now proceed to mention thofe particu- 
lar fpecies which are found in this country, and 
Ihall begin with the largeft of them. 
