I 40 J
G e n u s III. 0 W .L.
GREAT
E. OWL.
, - E A R E D O W LS .
15. a. Chinefe E. O.
a 5. b. Coromandel E. O.
W I T H S M O O T H H E A D S .
■ 41 . Wapacuthu O.
42. Spedtacle O.
43. Mountain O.
* E A R E D O W L S .
Great Eared Owl, Gen. Syn. i. p. 116. N° i.— Ara. Zaol. ii. N° i i4.
Strix Bubo, Muller, p.-io.— Gcorgi Reife, p. 164_Faux. Arag. p .7o,
^ T 'H I S fpecies is faid to inhabit various places on the old continent,
extending even to the ardlic region, and is common
alfo at Kamtjchatka. Is feen alfo at Aftrachan, to the fouth ; and
mentioned, among others, as frequenting Aleppo. Is now and then
feen with us, one being Ihot by the game-keeper o f the Rev.
Mr. Hare, at Hurftmonceaux, in SuJJex, in the year'1784.
■ VIRGINIAN
E.OWL.
Virginian Eared Owl, Gen. Syn. i. p. 119. N« z.
H I S is fmaller than the European fpecies j but, from its great
limilarity thereto, is by fome efteemed a variety of that bird.
I t is common both to South and North America j not unfrequent
at Hudjon’s Bay, where it frequents,the woods, and builds the neft
in March 5 it is compofed of a few flicks laid acrofs, for the moft
part placed on th e pine trees. The young fly in ’June. The eggs
HFTOBMffliSfsaS
H
O W L :
are two in number, o f a dull white. The bird is called by the
natives Natowokey Omijfew *.
The Owl was accounted a bird o f ill omen by the Egyptians and
Romans, and is held to this day in fuperftitious fear by the American
favages. By the Athenians it was held facred; and, from
its appearance o f gravity, fuppofed emblematic o f wifdom, and in
courfe dedicated to the goddels Minerva. Particular veneration
was obferved to be paid to it in Oneeheow by our circumnavigators
f ; and the fame thing was alfo mentioned by Dampier, in
refpedt to the natives o f the weft fide o f New Holland. The
Owl is called by the inhabitants o f the Friendly IJles, Looloo J.
41
Ceylonefe Owl, Gen. Syn. i. p. 120. N° 4»
J T is obferved by Mr. Marfden, that feveral Owls are found in
Sumatra J, and in particular the great horned one; by which he
moft probably means this fpecies.
An Owl, the fize o f a Hen, is alfo faid to be common to India;
o f a grey colour, with the end o f each feather marked with concentric
circles of pearly grey o f different Ihades. This laft is faid
to be not lhy, and is fometimes feen flying in the day time §.
CEYLONESE
H. OWL.
* Hutchins. t Cmk'e LaßPey. vol. ii. p. 219. % Id. Append.
|j Hiß. Suma.tr. p, 98.
§ Eff. Phil. p‘. 61.— Whether this is the fame, or a different fpecies, cannot be
determined, as no horns are mentioned.
Su pp l . Long