GENERAL CHARACTERS. 
141 
nocturnal birds, invariably absent. The young are born in a helpless condition, 
and covered with down ; and the eggs are invariably white, and of a rounded form. 
In size these birds are subject to great variation; the eagle-owls reaching to 28 
inches in length, while the owlets are not larger than a thrush. Considerable 
diversity of view has obtained as to the affinities of the owls, some authorities 
considering that their nearest relationships are with the diurnal birds of prey, 
while others regard them as more nearly related to the Picarians. From their 
osteology alone they appear, however, to be related on the one hand to the parrots, 
while on the other they are intimately connected through the ospreys with the 
diurnal birds of prey; in their soft internal parts they differ, however, very con¬ 
siderably from the latter. 
Distibution and Unlike the parrots, the owls (of which there are probably about 
Habits. two hundred species), enjoy a cosmopolitan distribution, ranging from 
the Arctic regions to the most distant islands of Oceania. The great majority of 
them are crepuscular and nocturnal in their habits, and are more or less completely 
dazed if disturbed and driven from their haunts during the daytime. Others, how¬ 
ever, are but little incommoded by daylight; while the hawk-owls actually seek 
their prey in the full glare of the sun. As owls subsist entirely on living prey, 
which at night must be closely approached before it can be detected, an absolutely 
silent flight is essential, and this is effected by the soft and fluffy nature of their 
plumage. It is doubtless from this ghost-like, stealthy flight, coupled with their 
nocturnal habits, their large glaring eyes, and their weird hootings and screechings, 
that these birds have in all ages and in all countries been regarded as creatures of 
ill-omen. Indeed, in this respect, owls hold a position among birds precisely similar 
to that occupied by lemurs among mammals; with the difference that, owing to 
distribution, while in the one case the superstition is universally diffused, in the 
other it is confined to certain races inhabiting the warmer regions of the Old 
World. While the majority of owls are arboreal, some of the species roost in holes 
or clefts of rocks or in buildings. It is common to see owls in museums mounted 
with three toes in front of and one behind the perch on which they are seated. An 
anonymous observer states, however, that this is totally incorrect, and that no 
living owl ever places three toes in front of his perch, although he could do this for 
a moment if he felt so minded. The same writer also observes that “ no owl seizes 
his prey or holds it with both feet, though both feet may be used to carry it when 
the prey is a large one; such quarry, for instance, as a full-grown rat. With one 
foot the owl grasps his prey, the other foot grasps a tuft or some other inequality 
of the ground. Then the bird goes to work.” 
Owls feed chiefly on small mammals, such as rats, mice, voles, and shrews— 
more especially the two latter—as well as on birds, reptiles, fishes, and insects. 
The large eagle-owls will readily attack and kill hares, rabbits, and the largest 
game-birds; and it is undoubtedly the case that such species inflict much harm on 
game-preserves. The smaller kinds do, however, far more good than harm to the 
agriculturist; and although they were formerly shot down ruthlessly, both by the 
gamekeeper and the farmer, there is some reason to believe that the latter, at least, 
is beginning to see the error of his ways. If proof were needful of the usefulness of 
these birds in keeping in check the pestilential field-vole, it is afforded by the flocks 
