CHARACTERISTIC BIRDS. 
181 
habitats, which sketch, however, is a sufficient guarantee 
of the correctness of what we have above stated. 
Europe—which, from its birth, has been dominated by 
the human race, and has, in a great measure, become 
essentially changed—exhibits a paucity of these typical 
forms when compared with other portions of the globe; 
and, of these, scarce one exclusively. Its dependent 
position makes this easy to be understood. In truth, 
this small portion of the earth is only a prominent 
peninsula of Asia, and in such close proximity to two 
other continents, that to speak of limits, in the sense of 
the word in which we would now use it, is scarcely 
possible. Besides which, it lies exactly in that zone 
where the creative powers of heat and light can accom¬ 
plish but little: it is no wonder, then, that we miss in 
Europe the distinctive features of the whole continent. 
Every family occurring in Europe has a representative in 
other continents, and not a single genus belongs exclu¬ 
sively to Europe. Notwithstanding this we may look 
upon certain birds as characteristic of a particular quarter 
of the globe, although they may be found beyond its 
borders. The Falcons, which we train to the chase, are 
characteristic of Europe, although they occur in Northern 
Asia and North America : they are the most powerful and 
high couraged, and, therefore, the most noble Falcons of 
the earth, and the most perfect examples of their race. 
One would think that the North had produced these 
birds as typical of its strength and vigour; in the colour¬ 
ing of their plumage, even, we can recognize a resemblance 
to the Norwegian glacier, and the dark jagged peaks 
emerging from the ice fields. With these we may rank 
the Eagle Owl (Bubo maximus ), king of .the night, the 
mystic hero of goblin story, and the Snowy Owl (.Nyctea 
