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Gen. C h a r . Beale straight at the base, the tip arched, and hooked; cutting margin of
the upper mandible nearly straight; under mandible sloping to the point, and doubly
notched. Nostrils oval, obliquely placed on the anterior ridge of the cere; facial disk large,
complete. Wings long and ample; the second quill-feather the longest in the wing, the
first but little shorter, equal to the third, and slightly notched on its inner web near the
tip. Begs with tarsi long and slender, clothed, with downy feathers; toes thinly covered
with hairs; claws long, sharp, moderately curved, and all more or less grooved beneath.
BA R N OWL.
Strix flammea, Linn.
La Chouette eifraie.
W hether our well-known Barn Owl be identical with those found in almost every portion of the globe,
notwithstanding their slight variations or differences of plumage, we have not been able satisfactorily to
determine; and it yet remains a question whether the Owls so nearly resembling the present, from the United
States, South America and its adjacent islands, together with others from Africa, India and New Holland, be
merely varieties depending upon climate, food and a combination of circumstances, or, on the contrary, radically
distinct, each constituting a different species.
The genus Strix as limited by modern authors, and taking this bird as its type, possesses, besides the
varieties above alluded to, many which must certainly be considered as truly distinct species. Of these we
have seen several from New Holland, one from India, and one from the West Indian Islands. It is a genus
at once distinguished from all other genera of the family of Strigidee by the elongated bill, the loose and
downy texture of the plumage, and by the beautiful style of colouring which pervades the upper surface of the
body.
The Strix flammea is spread over the whole of Europe, and appears to be everywhere stationary, at least
such is the case in our own island, where they inhabit barns, ruins, church-towers and hollow trees, remaining
concealed all day, but issuing at the approach of evening, when they prowl, on light and noiseless wing, in
search of their prey, night being the time when the species of this genus exert their powers and display their
destructive energies. Dazzled by the light of day, for which their powers of vision are not adapted, they
remain motionless and inanimate in their retreats, shading their eyes with the thin membranous veil which
they possess for the purpose of drawing over the pupils. To observe them in this state, we should not
suppose them endowed with that energy and quickness of action which they display at night, when, intent
upon their search, they skim over the meadows with every sense alive to the object of their pursuit: so
rapidly, indeed, do they pounce upon their victims, that even the little active mouse is seized before aware
of its approaching fate. Although mice form the- principal part of their subsistence, it is nevertheless
certain that they sometimes prey upon young birds, rats and leverets ; and instances have been known of their
committing depredations among the finned inhabitants of lakes and ponds.
In the plumage of these interesting birds there exists considerable variety, some individuals being fawn-
coloured bn the upper and under surface, spotted and dashed with dark grey, while others are purely white
on the under surface; and others again white on the same part, with minute spots of grey. So far as we
have been able to judge from dissection, the individuals killed in this country with pure white breasts, as
represented in the Plate, are invariably adult males, the females and young males having the breast more or
less speckled, and the edge of the facial disk tinged with fawn colour.
The Strix flammea incubates in holes of trees, old buildings, and similar situations, generally laying three
or four nearly round white eggs.
The young, for a considerable period, are covered with a thick coating of white down, and their retreat is
always found to contain vast quantities of pellets or castings, consisting of the indigestible parts of their food.
The Plate represents an adult male of the natural size.