The White Owl may be found in all parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. There are two varieties of it: one in Java, the Calong Owl; the other in Mexico and the Antilles. These two species differ but little from the Common White Owl, and are characterised by nearly the same habits.
The Caparacoch Owl, called by Buffon the Great Canadian Sparrow Owl, measures about fifteen inches. In summer it feeds upon small rodents and insects; in winter, on Ptarmigan, which it accompanies in their migrations from the South to the North. It will sometimes pounce down on the game which is killed by the sportsman, and, if care is not taken, will carry it off. It is a native of the Arctic regions, especially those of America. Sometimes it penetrates as far as Germany, but rarely makes its appearance in France.
The Harfang Owl, improperly called by some naturalists the King of the Owls, attains to about twenty-two inches in height; that is, to nearly the size of the Great Horned Owl. With the exception of the Lapland or Ash-coloured Owl, which measures two feet, this is the largest among the Owls. Its plumage is a brilliant white, with some black spots on the head. This colour is well suited to the nature of the places in which the Harfang lives. This bird inhabits the most desolate solitudes to the north of America: Newfoundland, Hudson's Bay, and Greenland. It is also found in Iceland and the neighbouring islands, but is only accidentally seen in England and France. Thanks to its colour, which harmonises so perfectly with all around, it is enabled to traverse almost unseen the immense deserts of snow, and thus has great facilities for surprising its prey, which consists of Hazel Hens, Ptarmigan, Grouse, Hares, and Rabbits. Owing to its abundant plumage and thick down, it is able to brave the inclemency of a climate that would be fatal to any creature less amply protected.
The fact is attested by the statement of Captain Parry, of Arctic-region notoriety, that this bird frequently dies of starvation. Sometimes it shows so much audacity and greediness that it is impossible to entertain any doubt on the subject of its hunger, as it will pounce on the game shot by the sportsman, totally disregarding human presence.
The Lapland and the Ural Owls have the same habits as the Harfang, only their geographical distribution is less extended. Mr. Gould regards the latter as one of the rarest European Owls. As their names indicate, they are peculiar to certain countries. Neither have they the dazzling whiteness of the Harfang Owl; and this is the characteristic which specially distinguishes them from the latter.
We may class in the same genus two exotic species discovered by Levaillant. These are the Choucou, which is a native of Africa, and the Huhul Owl of Guiana, which hunts its prey in open day.
Diurnal Birds of Prey.
All that we previously remarked, when commencing the consideration of this order, as to the general characteristics which distinguish birds of prey, applies more particularly to the diurnal portion of them. We shall not repeat here what we have already stated, but only add a few words, in order the better to specify this division of the order.
The diurnal birds of prey have their eyes placed at the sides of the head, and the toes completely bare. They vary in size from that of the Sparrow-hawk, the spread of whose wings is scarcely twelve inches, to the Condor, which stretches its pinions over a space of four or five yards. They lay their eggs, which are generally of an oval shape, in rude nests called "aeries."
The Diurnal section of the Rapacious order is divided into three families: the Falcons (Falconidæ), the Vultures (Vulturidæ), and the Serpent-eaters (Gypogeranus).