“When brown owls hoot their throats swell as big as a hen’s egg. I have known an owl of this species live a full year without any water. Perhaps the case may be the same with all birds of prey. When owls fly they stretch out their legs behind them as a balance to their large heavy heads, for as most nocturnal birds have large eyes and ears they must [...] [more...]
There is a peculiarity belonging to ravens tht must draw the attention even of the most incurious—they spend all their leisure time in striking and cuffing each other on the wing in a kind of playful skirmish; and, when they move from one place to another, frequently turn on their backs with a loud croak, and seem to be falling ot the ground. When [...] [more...]
Magpies and jays flutter with powerless wings, and make no dispatch; herons seem incumbered with too much sail for their light bodies; but these vast hollow wings are necessary in carrying burdens, such as large fishes, and the like; pigeons, and particularly the sort called smiters, have a way of clashing their wings the one against the other over [...] [more...]
![[picture: The Black Grouse]](http://tn.fromoldbooks.org/White-Selborne/tn/019-The-Black-Grouse-q75-500x436.jpg "[picture: The Black Grouse]")
![[picture: The Barn Owl (<i>Strix flammea</i>)]](http://tn.fromoldbooks.org/White-Selborne/tn/164-The-barn-Owl-q75-500x536.jpg "[picture: The Barn Owl (<i>Strix flammea</i>)]")
![[picture: The Brown Owl (Syrnium Aluco).]](http://tn.fromoldbooks.org/White-Selborne/tn/165-The-Brown-Owl-q75-457x500.jpg "[picture: The Brown Owl (Syrnium Aluco).]")
![[picture: The Raven (Corvus Corax)]](http://tn.fromoldbooks.org/White-Selborne/tn/234-The-Raven-Corvus-Corax-q75-445x500.jpg "[picture: The Raven (Corvus Corax)]")
![[picture: bird, a magpie]](http://tn.fromoldbooks.org/White-Selborne/tn/235-the-magpie-q75-500x375.jpg "[picture: bird, a magpie]")