262 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



d^. Plumage grayish brown, or decidedly brownish gray, above, the 

 blackish mesial streaks usually narrower and less conspicuously 

 contrasted ; bars on lower parts coarser and less crowded ; black 

 border to face usually with distinct admixture of brown, and 

 black spots on breast with distinct brown exterior suffusion ; 

 length about 8.50-10.00, wing 6.30-7.20 (6.60), tail 3.30-3.90 

 (3.58). JEggs 1.34 X 1-16. Hab. California. 



373c. M. asio bendirei (Brewst.). California Screech Owl. 

 c^. Larger, the wing averaging more than 6.75. 



d}. The grayer specimens hardly distinguishable in plumage from M. 

 asio bendirei, but size decidedly greater; plumage varj'ing to 

 deep umber-brownish (especially in specimens from Pacific 

 coast district); wing 6.92-7.80 (7.25), tail 3.65-4.60 (4.26). 

 ^ggs 1.50 X 1-27. Hab. Northwest coast, from Oregon to 

 Sitka, and east to northern Montana (Hellgate). 

 373d. M. asio kennicottii (Elliot). Kennicott's Screech Owl. 

 d'^. Yery light-colored, pure white largely predominating on lower 

 parts, the upper parts varying from pale buffy grayish to pale 

 dull grayish cinnamon, with the white spots on outer webs of 

 exterior scapulars and quills larger than in other forms, the 

 latter sometimes more or less confluent ; wing 6.70-7.50 

 (6.91), tail 3.30-4.00 (3.66). Hab. Higher Eocky Mountains, 

 from Colorado to eastern Montana (Fort Custer).. 373e. M. asio 

 maxwelliae (Eidgw.). Rocky Mountain Screech Owl. 

 a''. Toes entirely naked, to extreme base. 



Adult : Above finely mottled grayish, relieved by irregular blackish mesial 

 streaks ; outer webs of outermost scapulars bright ochraceous or orange- 

 rufous (white beneath surface) ; outer webs of lower middle wing-coverts 

 white, forming conspicuous spots ; lower parts whitish, marked with 

 very distinct broad mesial streaks and narrower bars or transverse lines 

 of blackish ; face and throat — sometimes whole upper parts — sometimes 

 more or less tinged or washed with orange-rufous. Young : Above 

 mottled transversely with grayish and whitish, but without any longi- 

 tudinal markings ; lower parts similarly but more coarsely and regularly 

 barred. Wing 5.10-5.60, tail 2.60-3.00. Eggs about 1.13 X -96. Hab. 

 Highlands of Guatemala and Mexico, and northward to Colorado and 

 northern California (Fort Crook). 



374. M. flammeolus (Kaup). Flammulated Screech Owl. 



Genus BUBO DumMil. (Page 256, pi. LXXVI., fig. 1.) 



Species. 



Common Characters. — Plumage irregularly varied with buffy, tawny, or whitish 

 (or all together), and dusky, in variable relative extent. Nest in trees (often a 

 deserted hawk's or crow's nest). Eggs 2-3. 



