. Cassell's book of birds . himself in alittle coppice, an Owl settled on the bush under which he was hid, and induced his pursuers not tosearch there, as they thought it impossible that any man could be concealed in a place where thatbird would perch. It was formerly supposed that the Barn Owls laid their eggs about April, but recent obser-vations have proved this statement to be incorrect, The breeding season really commences in theautumn, and during this period the happy pair testify their love and devotion to each other byloud and constant cries, as they fly sportively together around and
. Cassell's book of birds . himself in alittle coppice, an Owl settled on the bush under which he was hid, and induced his pursuers not tosearch there, as they thought it impossible that any man could be concealed in a place where thatbird would perch. It was formerly supposed that the Barn Owls laid their eggs about April, but recent obser-vations have proved this statement to be incorrect, The breeding season really commences in theautumn, and during this period the happy pair testify their love and devotion to each other byloud and constant cries, as they fly sportively together around and over the towers and turretsnear which they have taken up their abode—nest there is none, the young family being rearedat the bottom of a hole, or in some retired corner. The nestlings are reared upon mice, andare most carefully tended by their parents, who nurse their progeny so devotedly that they havefrequently been known to carry food to them for weeks or even months, after they have beencaptured and shut up in a 104 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. THE GAPERS {Hiantes). The order to which we have given the name of GAPERS (Hiantes) includes a considerablenumber of families, which, though differing considerably from each other in some trifling respects,are related in many essential particulars. Nearly all these birds are of small or moderate size,and are recognisable by their slender though powerful body, short neck, large and remarkablyflat head, long narrow-pointed wings, and short feeble legs. Their beak is short, broad, andflat, tapering towards its extremity, and although somewhat varied in its formation, is always sur-rounded by a stiff, bristle-like growth; the gape is so unusually wide as to constitute the mostremarkable feature they all have in common. The plumage is sometimes harsh and dusky, andsometimes soft, glossy, and brilliantly coloured. The birds belonging to this order principallyfrequent the warmest portions of our globe, and are rarely met with in high no
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbreh, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds
