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CHAPTER VIII. 
OWLS. — SUPERSTITIONS RESPECTING. SHORT EARED. 
— THE GREAT SNOWY OWL.— WHITE OWL. MODE OF 
FEEDING. — ATTACHMENT TO YOUNG. USED IN BIRD 
CATCHING. BURROWING OWL. — ■ DENTIROSTRAL. — 
NOTCH-BILLED BIRDS.— SHRIKES. MODE OF FEED- 
ING. — NESTS OF. USED IN TAKING FALCONS. PUFF- 
BACKED SHRIKE. THRUSH GENUS. INSTINCTIVE 
HABITS IN FEEDING. ANECDOTE. THRUSH AND 
YOUNG CUCKOO. — FLY-CATCHERS. — COT INGA. TANA- 
GERS. — BEAUTY OF. — SERRATIROSTRAL, OR SERRA- 
TED BEAKS. HORNBILLS. — PLENIROSTRAL. STRONG 
BILLED. — GRACKLES. PARADISE BIRDS. 
There is still another family to he classed amongst 
the rapacious birds, and forming a natural link in 
the chain, after Eagles and Falcons, namely, Owls. 
Every body who has once examined them, must 
have been struck with the leading points of resem- 
blance. An Owl's hill is almost like a Hawk's, 
short, hooked, and like its claws, evidently intended 
for the purpose of seizing and tearing to pieces its 
favourite food. An Owl's eye too is bright and 
clear like a Hawk's, hut by being larger and more 
full, is better calculated for the twilight or midnight 
hours, preferred for prowling abroad in quest of prey. 
The chief peculiarities of the tribe consist in the 
advantages afforded them by nature respecting their 
mode of flight, and sense of seeing and hearing. It 
is evident, that in order to make a prize of mice, 
and other small animals, which easily hide them- 
selves in the ground, or under grass or heath, great 
silence and clear-sightedness are necessary, as well 
as a very acute sense of hearing. Accordingly, the 
