BIRDS OF KANSAS. 295 



. Sp. CiiAif. '■'■Adult: Upper surface transversely mottled with blackish brown 

 and grayish white, the former predominating, especially on the dorsal region; 

 feathers of the nape and wings (only) ochraceous beneath the surface, lower 

 scapulars with a few obsolete spots of white on inner webs. Primary coverts 

 dusky, with transverse series of dark mottled grayish spots, these becoming 

 somewhat ochraceous basally; ground color of the primaries grayish, this espe- 

 cially prevalent on the inner quills; the basal third (or less) of all are ochra- 

 ceous; this decreasing in extent on inner feathers; the grayish tint is everywhere 

 finely mottled transversely with dusky, but the ochraceous is plain; primaries 

 crossed by a series of about seven quadrate blackish brown spots, these anteri- 

 orly about as wide as the intervening yellowish or mottled grayish; the interval 

 between the primary coverts to the first of these spots is about .80 to 1.00 inch 

 on the fourth quill — the spots on the inner and outer feathers approaching the 

 coverts, or even underlying them; the inner primaries — or, in fact, the general 

 exposed grayish surface — has much narrower bars of dusky. Ground color of 

 the wings like the back, this growing paler on outer feathers, and becomiiig 

 ochraceous basally; the tip approaching whitish; secondaries crossed by nine or 

 ten narrow bands of dusky. Ear tufts, with the lateral portion of each web, 

 ochraceous; this becoming white, somewhat variegated with black, toward the 

 end of the inner webs, on which the ochraceous is broadest; medial portion clear, 

 unvariegated black. Forehead and postocular disk minutely speckled with 

 blackish and white; facial circle continuous browiiish black, becoming broken 

 into a variegated collar across the throat. 'Eyebrows' and lores grayish white; 

 eye surrounded with blackish, this broadest anteriorly above and below, the pos- 

 terior half being like the ear coverts. Face plain ochraceous; chin and upper 

 part of the throat immaculate white, ground color below pale ochraceous, the ex- 

 posed surface of the feathers, however, white; breast with broad longitudinal 

 blotches of clear dark brown, these medial on the feathers; sides and flanks, 

 each feather with a medial stripe, crossed by a broad or broader transverse bars 

 of blackish brown; abdomen, tibial plumes, and legs plain ochraceous, becoming 

 nearly white on lower part of tarsus and on the toes; tibial plumes with a few 

 sagittate marks of brownish; lower tail coverts each having a medial sagittate 

 mark of dusky, this continuing along the shaft, forking toward the base. Lin- 

 ing of the wing plain pale ochraceous; inner primary coverts blackish brown, 

 formiug a conspicuous spot." 



Si retell of 

 Length. wing. Wing., Tail. Tarsus. Bill. Cere. 



Male 14.00 86.2.5 11.50 6.00 1.2.5 .6.5 .35 



Female... 15.00 o7.75 12.00 G.25 1.30 .75 .35 



Iris yellow; bill and claws brownish to bluish black. 



This species appears to be rather evenly distributed through- 

 out its range, and is one of the most common Owls in the 

 United States; but being strictly nocturnal, is seldom noticed. It 

 inhabits the scrubby thickets and underbrush skirting tlie streams, 

 and I have flushed the birds in tall, rank growth of reeds and 

 grasses.. Unless suddenly startled they seldom take wing, pre- 



