NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Five quills eniiirgiu.ited ; toes scantly foatlieied, the 

 tcmiinal scutella: exposed ; iris black. Size medium . Syrnium. 



4. Nyctale. Two outer quills with inner webs emar- 

 ■jinateil. Top of cere less than half the culmen, level. With- 

 out ear-tufts. Bill yellow or blackish; iris yellow. Size 

 small. 



tt Anterior edge of the ear-conch without an operculum. Tlic two 

 ears symmetrical. Tail slightly rounded, only about half as long 

 as the wing. 



5. Scops. Two to live quills with inner webs emarginated ; 

 second to lifth longest. Bill weak, light-colored. Ear-conch 

 elliptical, about one-third the height of the head, with a 

 slighll}' elevated fringed anterior margin. Size .small ; ear- 

 tufts usually well developed, sometimes rudimentary. 



G. Bubo. Two to four outer quills with inner webs emar- 

 ginated; third to fourth longest. Bill robust, black. Ear- 

 conch elliptical, simple, from one third to one half the height 

 of the skull. Size large. Ear-tufts well developed or rudi- 

 mentary. 



Ear-tufts well developed. Two to three outer quills 

 with inner webs emarginated ; lower tail-coverts not 

 reaching end of the tail. Toes covered with short feathers, 

 the claws exposed, and bill not concealed by the loral 



feathers Bubo. 



Ear-tufts rudimentary. Four outer quills with their 



inner webs emarginated ; lower tail-coverts reaching end 



of the tail. Toes covered with long feathers, which hide 



the claws, and bill nearly concealed by the loral feathers . Kydta. 



■f+t Similar to the last, but the tail graduated, nearly equal to the 



wing. 



7. Sumia. Four o\itcr quills with inner webs emarginated. 

 Third quill longest. Bill strong, yellow ; ear-conch simple, 

 oval, less than the diameter of the eye. Size medium ; no 

 ear-tufts. 



II. Nostril, a small circular opening into the surrounding inflated membrane 

 of the cere. Ear-conch small, simple, oval, or nearly round, without an 

 operculum. 



First quill .shorter than the tenth. 



8. Glaucidiiim. Third to fourth quills longest ; four emargi- 

 nated on imier webs. Tarsus about equal to the middle toe, 

 densely feathered. Tail much more than half the wing, 

 roundc'il. Bill and iris yellow. Size very small. 



9. Micrathene. Fourth quill longest; four emarginated on 

 inner webs. Tarsus a little longer than middle toe, scantily 

 haired. Tail less than half the wing, even. Bill light (green- 

 ish ?) ; iris yellow. Size very small. 



First quill lonircr than sixth. 



10. Speotyto. Second to fourth quills longest ; three emar- 

 ginated on inner webs. Tarsus more than twice as long as 

 middle toe, closely feathered in front to the toes, naked 

 behind. Tail less than half the wing, slightly rounded. Bill 

 yellowish ; iris yellow. Size small. 



