HORNED OWLS, ETC. 



187 



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

 Francisco Mountain, Arizona. 

 Eggs. — Usually ;5. 



GENUS NYCTEA. 



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



Ear tufts rudimentary ; ear openings small, Avithout 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 TJir O.^pny. 

 Fig. 250. 



hair - like feathers, partly or wholly concealing- the claws ; hill nearly 

 concealed hy loral feathers. Adult male : body pure white, sometimes 

 almost unspotted, hut usually marked nu)re or less with transverse spots 

 or haj-s of slaty brown. Adult female : much darker. i)ure white only on 

 f.ice. tliroMt. middle of breast and feet, the head spotted, and the rest 

 of the bodv barred with dark brown. M(de : length L'O-L'o, wing- l.").r)0- 

 17.:5<), tail "U.OO-'.I.TO, bill I. Fem<d» : lenytb -i:)-'!!. wini;- 17.:!U-1S.7(), tail 

 '.>.70-l(U0, bill 1.10. 



