. Key to North American birds [microform] : containing a concise account of every species of living and fossil bird at present known from the continent north of the Mexican and United States boundary, inclusive of Greenland. Birds; Ornithology; Oiseaux; Ornithologie. 600 SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — HA PTORES — STItlCES. ennblo the birds to boo hy iiii;lit, iin<l wuisr tlicm tc» siiffrr from tlio glare of thr sunlight. Most Bpocics jiass tlif (laytiiiic sccrctcil in liollow tri'rs, or ticiist' I'oliagt' and otliiT dusky retreats, roHuniiiig their wonted activity after niylittail. Owing to tiie
. Key to North American birds [microform] : containing a concise account of every species of living and fossil bird at present known from the continent north of the Mexican and United States boundary, inclusive of Greenland. Birds; Ornithology; Oiseaux; Ornithologie. 600 SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — HA PTORES — STItlCES. ennblo the birds to boo hy iiii;lit, iin<l wuisr tlicm tc» siiffrr from tlio glare of thr sunlight. Most Bpocics jiass tlif (laytiiiic sccrctcil in liollow tri'rs, or ticiist' I'oliagt' and otliiT dusky retreats, roHuniiiig their wonted activity after niylittail. Owing to tiie jieiMdiar texture of tlie jduniage tlieir tlight is perfectly noiseless, like the niineiuu steps of ii cat; and no entirely fanciful anal- ogy has heeii drawn between these birds and the feline carnivora that chietly i)rey stealthily in the dark. The nest is commonly a rude aH'air of sticks gathered in tlu^ various places of diurnal resort; tho eggs a!-e several (commonly .'{-(i), white, subs|ihricul. The 9 i "» ii rule, is larger than the $, hut the sexes are alike in cohir: the coloration is conuuonly blended and diffuse, ditlicult of concise description. Owls feed entirely ujmmi animal substances, and capture their prey alive — small quailrupeds and birds, reptiles and insects, and oven fish, l/ike most other HaplorfiK, they eject from the mouth, after a meal, the boin's, hair, feathers, and other iudigesti- bh; substances, niado u]) into a round pelh't. They are noted for tlieir loud outcries, so stranije and often .so lugubrious, that it is no wonder traditional sujierstition places these disnuil night- birds in the category of thint;s ill-omened. Mesides the well-known lines whi(di are set beneath two of the accompanyinir tiirures, the reader may recall the owl as among the' portents weird' which foretidl the fate of the unhappy lit uwiiy With will! vcM'ircration. PurtciitM wt-inl, etc. Owls lire among the most ciim|detely cusinopiditan of birds : with minor
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1884
