The Barred Owl, (_Syrnium varium_).—This owl is more diurnal than its nearest relatives, and often hunts its prey in bright moonshine. Its deep, penetrating call, “woo-o-o, whoo-o-o,” is one of the most weird and striking cries of the bird world. Another peculiarity, common to all owls, but more noticeable in this less nocturnal species, is the absolutely noiseless flight. The soft, downy feathers of the owl permit it to wing its way through the air with as little noise as a falling leaf. THE EAGLE AND VULTURE AVIARY, No. 11. [Illustration: EARED VULTURE.] [Illustration: LAMMERGEYER.] The Eagle and Vulture Aviary stands in an open glade, but well surrounded by forest trees, in Bird Valley, between the Aquatic Bird House and the new Zebra House. It is a commodious and pleasant installation, well adapted to exhibit the Society’s collection of rapacious birds. Its length over all is 210 feet. It has seven very large flight cages and six smaller ones. The largest cages are 24 feet wide, 33 feet deep and 31 feet high. In the rear of the great wire structure will stand a very comfortable brick building to serve as a winter shelter for the tropical birds of the collection; but it will not be open to the public. Now that our eagles and vultures are to be brought together, visitors will find that the collection is a large one, and contains many fine species. The Condor, (_Sarcorhamphus gryphus_), of the Andes, is the largest of the birds of prey, having a wing-spread of over nine feet. It feeds entirely on carrion, rarely attacking living animals. In the male, the head is adorned with a large fleshy comb, much like that of a barn-yard cock. The Society at present possesses several specimens of this great bird. The King Vulture, (_Gypagus papa_), is as its proud name implies, the one member of the Vulture Family which really is clad in royal robes, and color-decked to match. Its range extends from Mexico and Central America to Trinidad and Brazil. The visitor should not fail to see this gorgeously caparisoned body of white, cream-yellow and black, and head of orange, purple and crimson. Black Vulture, (_Catharista urubu_).—These ill-favored but very useful birds are quite abundant, and even semi-domesticated, in some of our southern cities. This is due to the protection accorded them, because of their valuable services as scavengers. They are said to devour every particle of exposed organic refuse, and in a warm climate these services are of more value than we in the north can realize. The Yellow-Headed Vulture, (_Cathartes urobitinga_), of northern South America, is a much handsomer bird than its two preceding relatives. It has much the same feeding habits, but is very rare and delicate in captivity.