GENUS II.—THE OWL. Gen. Char.-Bill hooked; base covered with bristles ; no cere; nostrils oblong; tongue cleft at the end; eyes very large and protuberant, surrounded by a circle of a feathers; head very large and round, full of feathers; ears large and open; outmost toe versatile, or capable of being turned back, so as to act with the back toe; claws hooked, and sharp. Species I.-The Eagle-Owl. Bubo Maximus, nigri et fusci coloris, Sib. Scot. 14. Great Horn or Eagle Owl, Wil. Orn. 99. Raii Syn. Strix Bubo, Lin. Sys. 131. Brit. Zool. Illus. 10. tab. 16. Orc. Katogle. Stock Owl, Wal. Desc. of Ork. THIS bird I have never seen, but am credibly informed is still to be found in the Orkneys, especially in the hilly parts, where it is often surprised sleeping. When the horns are erected, I am told it has very much the appearance of a cat, whence the Orkney appellation. Not having a specimen, I shall give the description of this bird from Mr Pennant's British Zoology, a book worthy to be read by every lover of natural history, and ought to excite every one to give him what assistance is in his power, to the perfecting of a plan which is not in the power of any one man, though, like Mr Pennant, indefatigable, to accomplish. 66 "In size it is almost equal to the eagle; the irides bright yellow; the head and whole body finely varied with lines, "spots, and specks of black, brown, ash-colour, and ferrugi F 66 nous; the wings long; the tail short, marked with dusky "bars; the legs thick, covered to the end of the toes with a "close and full down, of a pale yellowish brown; the claws "great, much hooked, and dusky." Species 2. The Short-Eared Owl. Brit. Zool. 156. THIS bird I shot in the hills of Hoy, where it is very frequent, and builds its nest among the heath. It is impudent in breeding-time, sometimes catching up chickens from the doors. I have likewise seen it in chase of pigeons in daylight, which is not ordinary with the owl kind. In a nest I found in Hoy were the remains of a moorfowl, two plovers, besides the feet of several others, and the birds, two in number, ready to fly; the nest was in a large heath-bush, made without any art; intolerably fetid, by reason of the heat of the weather, which had putrified some part of the provisions; and which was still increased by the dung, &c. of the birds, which the parents did not seem so attentive to remove as I have observed the smaller birds upon such occasions. The descripof this bird is as follows: The length of this bird was thirteen inches, the breadth three feet; the weight ten ounces and a half; the bill strong, and much hooked, of a blackish horn-colour, almost buried amongst a set of white bristly feathers; the eyes large and full; the irides a most beautiful colour, commonly yellow; the pupil large, with a nictitating membrane; the eyelids covered with black bristles, round them a circle of white, mixed with tawny; the crown of the head brown, variegated with lighter colours. Above each eye stood a single feather, taller than the rest, the half of which (or one web) was black and the other white. While the bird lived, and was suddenly startled, it would erect these like small horns, and fall a hissing like a cat; but the horns were scarce discernible when it died, unless to a nice inspection, in which it would be seen that they covered more of their neighbours than they ought. The ears were surprisingly large, opening from the neck to the throat, surrounded with a set of small parti-coloured feathers. The back of the head was covered with brownish feathers, edged with grayish yellow; the back and coverts are brownish, edged with a dull yellow. The legs, to the nails, are covered with whitish yellow feathers; the quills are dusky, barred with red, the second feather serrated; the tail brown and spotted; the breast and belly a dirty yellow.. Of Owls with smooth heads. Species 3.-The White Owl. Common Barn, White, or Church-Owl, Howlet, Madge-Howlet, Gillihowter, THE Hulote, as it is here called, is found in the more retired places of Hoy in summer, where it builds; at other times is more domestic, and ventures into out-houses, ruins, churches, &c. where it continues all day, if not disturbed, asleep; in the night looks out for prey, which is mice, small birds, and other creatures it can master. Species 4.-The Brown Owl. The Gray Owl, Wil. Orn. Raii Syn. Av. 26. Strix Ulula, Lin. Syst. 133. THIS species is found in the more hilly parts in summer, but I never saw nor heard of it in winter, so I suspect it a migratory bird, though of this I am not certain; and, indeed, this species is much shyer than the rest, and worse to come at, keeping much more in its retreats than them, and not so impudent as the short-eared species before described; as for the 1 magde-howlet, it may be considered everywhere as one of these creatures that nature has, in some measure, tamed, and given to man to be domesticated, for its retreats are so near him that a little familiarity, I imagine, would render this creature, who in a manner offers its services to mankind, almost as useful as its kindred cat, and not a bit more mischievous than the greater part of these but half-tamed and ever suspicious domestics. There are none of the butcher kind in Orkney that ever I could find ORDER II.-PIES. GENUS III.-CROWS. Gen. Char.-Bill strong; upper mandible a little convex; edges cultrated; nostrils covered with bristles reflected over them; tongue divided at the end; toes three forward, one backward; the middle joined to the outmost as far as the first joint. Species 1.-The Raven. Will. Orn. 121. Raii Syn. Av. 39. Corvus Corax, Lin. Sys. 155. Brit. Zool. 166. Corvus, the Raven Nostralibus, the Corbie, Sib. Scot. 15. Orc. Corby. In the winter and spring vast flocks of corbies are seen here, but are very wild; when breeding-time draws near they grow |