HORNED OWLS, ETC. 



187 



Distribution. — Valleys and southern coast of California, and east to San 

 Francisco Mountain, Ai-izona. 

 Eggs. — Usually 3. 



GENUS NYCTEA. 



376. Nyctea nyctea (Linn.). Snowy Owl. 



Ear tufts rudimentary ; ear openings small, without anterior flap, the 

 two ears not distinctly different ; tail not reaching- beyond tips of longest 

 under coverts ; four outer quills emarginate ; toes covered with long 



From The Osprcy. 

 Fig. 250. 



hair -like featluMs, partly <>r wliolly concealing the claws; bill nearly 

 concealed by loral feathers. Adult nude : body pure white, sometimes 

 almost unsj)()tted, but usually marked more or less with transverse spots 

 or baix of slaty l)r()wn. Adult fenudf : much darker, jmre white only on 

 face, tliront. middle of breast and feet, tbe head spott.-d. and the rest 

 of the bud V barred with dark brown. Midi-: length L'O- •_';',. wing l.")..")0- 

 17.80, tail 0.00-0.70, bill 1. Femal, : length L'il-l'T, wing 17.:JU-1S.70, tail 



ft.70-io.;50, bill 1.10. 



