with five transverse grey bars; all the under parts pure
white ; tarsi covered with short white hair-like feathers, a few
of which are spread over the upper surface of the toes ; the
claws brown, the inner edge of that of the middle toe being
slightly serrated. The wings reach beyond the end of the
tail, and the edges of the wing and tail-feathers have the
appearance of being worn, the fibres forming the web being
of unequal length, and the wings of these birds therefore
when moved in the air make very little or no noise. In some
specimens, generally found on dissection to be females or
young males, the under surface of the body is fawn colour.
The whole length of the bird is about fourteen inches.
The vignette below represents the actual size and form of
the sternum or breast-bone of the Tawny Owl, the species
figured on the opposite page, to be contrasted with the same
part of the Peregrine Falcon at page 106. I t will be observed
that the bones of thq Owl are comparatively deficient
in surface and strength: the keel has but little depth, the
sides are narrow, while the forked bone, which in the Falcons
is circular, broad, and strong, will be found in this Owl, and
in all the species of Owls, to be angular, slender, and weak.
The powers of flight are diminished in proportion.
R APTORES. STRIGIDÆ.
T H E TAW N Y OWL.
Strix stridula,
Ulula ,,
Syrnium aluco,
Tawny Owl, P enn. Brit. Zool. vol. i. p. 266.
M ,, Mont. Ornith. Diet.
,,„ B ewick, Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 67.
Ivy „ F lem. Brit. An. p. 57.
Tawny Selby, Brit. Ornith. vol. i. p. 102.
J enyns, Brit. Vert. p. 93.
,, G ould, Birds of Europe, pt. v.
Chouette hulotte, T emm. Man. d’Ornith. vol. i. p. 89.
Syrnium. Generic Characters. —The head without tufts. Bill slightly
bending from the base. Nostrils large. Facial disk large and complete;
auditory opening large, defended by an operculum. Wings short and rounded ;
the first quill-feather very short, the fourth the longest. Tail long, concave
beneath. Legs and toes feathered ; claws curved, long, and sharp.
K 2