HORNED OWLS, ETC. 179 



and broadly tipped with ivhitish ; tail banded ; under parts whitish, barred and 

 spotted with bi-own. Length: 19, wing- 12.00-18.50, tail 8.50-9.00, bill .90. 

 Distribution. — From southern Colorado and New Mexico to California 

 and south to Lower California and northwestern Mexico. 



The spotted owl is the western representative of the barred owl, 

 and is so closely confined to the thinly settled mountain regions of 

 the west that little is known of its habits. Mr. Lyman Belding 

 compares its call to the barking of a dog. 



369a. S. O. caurinum Merriam. Northern Spotted Owl. 



Similar to the spotted owl, but darker, with white spots and markings 

 restricted, especially on head and back ; wing- quills darker, the broad 

 white tip almost obsolete. Winy: 12.10; tail (middle feathers) 8.0G. 



Distribution. — Coast region of Washing'ton and British Columbia. 



GENUS SCOTIAPTEX. 



370. Scotiaptex cinerea (GmeL). Great Gkay Owl. 



Ear tufts wanting- ; ear openings larg-e, with conspicuous anterior flap, 

 the two ears striking-ly different; bill nearly hidden by feathers ; toes en- 

 tirely covered with feathers ; eyes yellow, eye ring- black ; bill small, nearly 

 hidden by feathers ; face with concentric rings of gray and dark brown ; 

 upper parts sooty, mottled with g-ray and blackish ; wing' quills and tail 

 banded ; under parts mixed sooty and whitish, with irregular sooty streak- 

 ing ; flanks and legs barred. Length: 25-80, extent 54-00, wing about 

 1(>-18, tail 11.00-12..50. 



Distribution. — Northern North America, south in winter to the northern 

 border of the United States. 



Nest. — In evergreens, made of sticks, feathers, and sometimes mosses. 

 Eggs : 2 to 4. white. 



Food. — Mainly rabbits, mice, and other small mammals, together -with 

 birds. 



" Its great predilection for thick woods, in which it dwells doubt- 

 less to the very limit of trees, prevents it from being an inhabitant 

 of the barren grounds or other open country in the north. It is 

 crepuscular or slightl}' nocturnal in the southern parts of its range, 

 l)ut in the high north it pursues its prey in the daytime. In the 

 latter region, wh(;re the sun never passes below the horizon in sum- 

 mer, it is undoubtedly necessity and not choice that prompts it to be 

 abroad in the daylight. . . . The note of tliis owl is said to be a 

 tremulous, vibrating sound, somewhat resembling that of the screech 

 owl." (Fisher.) 



GENUS NYCTALA. 



General Charactirs. — Wing 5 25-7.40 ; ear tufts wanting ; ear openings 

 nearly equal to height of skull, with anterior flap, the two ears conspic- 

 uously different ; feet thickly feathered to claws. . 



KEY TO 8FECIK8. 



1. Wing 0..50 or more richardsoni. p. ISO. 



1. Wing les.H than <). 



