THE STORY OF THE BIRDS . 
519 
is gray; the upper-parts are chestnut-buff, with black barrings; the primary 
quills blackish brown, but the rest of the wings white; the breast is marked 
with bands of chestnut and gray; the abdomen is white; and the tail-feathers 
are reddish, barred with black,'and tipped with white. The female, as a rule, 
lacks the mustache, and the bands on the breast. Like many other members 
MERLIN. GRIFFIN VULTURE. KITE. WANDERING FALCON. 
EUROPEAN GREAT HORNED OWL. SHORT'EARED OWL. BARN OWL. 
LONG-EARED OWL. 
of the family, the male has an air-pouch opening beneath the tongue, and 
running some distance down the front of the neck, which is most developed 
during the breeding-season, but at other times probably becomes so con¬ 
tracted as to become almost unnoticeable. Always unknown in Ireland, and 
