NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 197 



373<r. Megascops asio bendirei (BREWST.) 



California Screech Owl. 



Hab. California. 



No red phase of plumage is known in this bird ; it is grayish- 

 brown or brownish-gray, and very much like M. asio, being of the same 

 size. Eggs in my collection from Petaluma and Riverside, California, 

 do not differ from those of the Eastern representative. Four speci- 

 mens measure 1.38x1.18, 1.40x1.18,1.47x1.19, 1.47x1.20. The aver- 

 age of ten eggs is i.4ox 1.17. 



373^. Megascops asio kennicottii (ELLIOT.) [402*?.] 



Keniiicott's Screech. Owl. 



Hab. Region of the Northwest coast, from Sitka to Oregon, east to Montana. 



Kennicott's Screech Owl, in the red and gray phase of plumage, 

 averages considerably larger than asio and mccallii. Length about 

 eleven inches. 



Its general habits are essentially the same as those of M. asio. 

 Captain Bendire gives the sizes of a set of four eggs taken from a hole 

 in a cottonwood in Washington Territory, April 7, as 1.47 x 1.28, 1.43 

 xi. 29, 1.45x1.30, i.46x 1.30. The cavity from which these eggs were 

 taken was sixteen inches deep and twenty-five feet from the ground. 



373^ Megascops asio maxwellise (RIDGW.) [402^.] 



Rocky Mountain Screech Owl. 



Hab. Rocky Mountain region, from Colorado north to Montana. 



This form of the Screech Owl has been named in honor of Mrs. 

 M. A. Maxwell, of Boulder, Colorado, a noted huntress and taxidermist. 

 No gray phase is observed in this form, but the whole plumage is very 

 light colored. Mr. Norris has a set of four eggs, taken near Loveland, 

 Colorado, April 20, 1888; they measure 1.49x1.19, 1.46x1.20, i.46x 

 i. 21, i-54x 1.26. 



373/. Megascops asio trichopsis (WAGL.) [403.] 



Mexican Screech Owl. 



Hab. Northwestern Mexico into Arizona, New Mexico and northward to Colorado. 



The plumage of this form is described as nearly ashy-gray above, 

 with broad blackish streaks in strong contrast, blackish bars on lower 

 parts numerous, black border on the face and black spots on the breast. 

 Its general habits do not differ from those of its Northern and Eastern 

 relatives. Average size of the eggs, 1.30x1.10. 



374. Megascops flammeolus (K.AUP.) [404.] 



Flammulated Screech Owl. 



Hab. Northern California and Colorado, southward to Mexico and the highlands of Guatemala. 



A small species whose general appearance is that of a young or 

 rather an ungrown Mottled Owl, M. asio the toes are entirely naked 



