Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/38

Rh (operculum). The beak is lengthened and curved only towards the point. The tarsi (or that part of the foot which is raised, commonly, but erroneously, called the leg) are rather long, and feathered; the toes are clothed with hairs.

The Owls of this genus are eminently nocturnal; their enormous facial disks, and great black eyes with dilated pupils, give them a very peculiar appearance; their colours are generally white and pale buff, marked and speckled with bluish-grey. Their voices are loud and discordant.



The Screech Owl (Strix flammea, ), called also the Barn Owl, is common throughout the