CAROLINA PARROT, 405 
Venice, Butler Co., Ohio ; Mr. Richards pointing out the identical sycamores in which 
they had nested many years ago.” 
Finally, the Jate Wm. S Sullivant, LL D., a well informed ornitho- 
logist, as well as eminent botanist, who was well acquainted with 
these birds in earlier years, infovmed me that in Jul), 1862. a flock 
numbering from twenty five to thirty mada their appearance in the 
Capitol Square of this city and remained in the elm trees opposite his 
residence for a couple of hours, greatly to his enjoyment and the delight 
of numerous small boys. 
According to Audubon, the Parroquet nested in natural cavities of trees, 
the compliment of eggs being two. This was not accurately deter- 
mined for the reason that more than one females was believed to occupy 
the same nest. He describes the eggs as greenish white. Dr. Brewer 
describes an egg as of a rounded oval form, dull white color, measuring 
1.40 by 1.10. 
ORDER RAPTORES. BIRDS OF PREY. 
PLA ICICI VO SSA ICC EID) ah, | (OMY My Sc 
Feet highly raptorial, with large, strong, sharp, curved contractile claws adapted for 
grasping. Hallux perfectly incumbent, lengthened (more than half as long as the fou:th 
toe), with large claw. Front toes with slight basal webbing between outer and middle 
toe, or none. Nostrils imperforate. Bill short, stout, not notably contracted in its conti- 
nuity, with strongly hooked tip. Head feathered wholly or in greatest part. Lower 
larynx developed with one pair of muscles. Cceca present, as a rule, if not always. 
Physiognomy peculiar by reason of great lateral expa sion and lengthwise shortening 
of the cranium, causing the eyes to be directed forward. Eyes surrounded by a disc of 
radiating bristly feathers, in front closely appressed to and hiding the base of the bill, 
elsewhere bounded by a rim of differently formed feathers. Tomia never toothed or 
lobed. Nostrils usnally at the edge of the cere. Outer toe completely versatile, shorter 
than inner toe. Basal phalanx of middle toe not longer than the second, and much 
shorter than the next. Legs commonly feathered or bristly to or on the toes. Plumage 
peculiarly soft and lax, without after-shafts; flight perfectly noiseless. Cranial walls 
widely separated by intervention of spongy diplvé. Sternum commonly doubly notched. 
Chiefly nocturnal. 
Genus STRIX. Linnzens. 
No ear tufts; facial disc highly developed, not circular; ears very large, operculate. 
Tarsi long, scant feathered, bristly below like the nearly naked toes. Middle claw 
usually serrate or jagged. Plumage downy. 
