MEGASCOPS. 261 



color of upper surface in general usually moi-e or less broken by lighter and darker 

 vermiculations. Young, with whole plumage, excepting remiges and tail-feathers, 

 simply barred or narrowly banded with dull grayish or whitish, the longitudinal 

 and other markings being wholly absent. Nestling : Entirely white. Nest in holes 

 in trees. Eggs 2-6. 



a}. Toes more or less distinctly feathered or bristled on upper side. 



¥. Dichromatic ; the plumage presenting two totally distinct phases, one gray- 

 ish, the other bright rufous, which have no relation to sex, age, or season. 

 (Eastern races.) 

 c^. Larger, the wing averaging more than 6.00. 



Length 7.50-10.00, wing 6.00-7.10 (6.43), tail 3.05-3.50 (3.26). 

 Eggs 1.42 X 1-19- Hah. Eastern United States and British 

 Provinces, except lower portions of South Atlantic (and Gulf?) 

 States, west to Great Plains. 



373. M. asio (Linn.). Screech Owl. 

 c*. Smaller, the wing averaging less than 6.00. 



d}. Much darker than M. asio, with markings on lower parts more 

 numerous and more extended. Gray phase, deep grayish 

 brown, varying to decided umber-brown, above; legs usually 

 deep brownish, thickly barred with darker. Rufous phase, 

 more richly colored than corresponding plumage of ilf. asio, the 

 legs usually bright rusty. Wing 5.60-6.40 (5.98), tail 2.65-3.20 

 (3.00). Eggs 1.30 X 1-10. Sab. Lower South Carolina and 

 Georgia, and whole of Florida. 



373a. M. asio floridanus Eidgw. Florida Screech Owl. 

 <P. Slightly darker than M. asio, with light mottlings on upper parts 

 (in both phases) much coarser and more conspicuous. Rufous 

 phase with rufous predominating on lower parts. Length 6.50- 

 9.00, wing 5.60-6.30 (5.96), tail 3.10-3.40 (3.28). Eggs 1.34 X 

 1.17. Hab. Southern Texas and eastern Mexico, south to Gua- 

 temala... 373(^. M. asio mccallii (Cass.). Texan Screech Owl. 

 i*. Monochromatic ; the plumage presenting in all individuals essentially the 

 same character, corresponding to the grayish phase of the eastern races. 

 (Western races.) 

 c^ Smaller, the wing averaging less than 6.75. 



d}. Plumage nearly pure ash-gray above, the usually broad blackish 

 mesial streaks in conspicuous contrast ; blackish bars on lower 

 parts very numerous, narrow; black border to face Avithout 

 admixture of brown, and black spots on breast usually without 

 distinct brown exterior suffusion ; length about 6.50-8.00, wing 

 6.10-7.00 (6.41), tail 3.10-3.70 (3.44). ^ Eggs 1.31 X l-H. Hab. 

 Northwestern Mexico and contiguous border of United States, in 

 Arizona and New Mexico, north to Colorado (Colorado Springs). 

 373/. M. asio trichopsis (Wagl.). Mexican Screech Owl. 



