BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 705 



inner (proximal) quills, the spots larger on outermost quills, where 

 those on proximal portion are frequently confluent along edge; middle 

 rectrices coarsely mottled with dusky and light brownish gray, the 

 mottlmgs havmg more or less of a transverse tendency, the remain- 

 ing rectrices mostly dusky brownish gray with incomplete or inter- 

 rupted narrow bands of pale brownish gray to buffy brown (those on 

 inner webs becoming dull whitish toward edge), these bands aver- 

 agmg about half as wide as the dusky interspaces; face, including 

 "eyebrows" (supercOiary region), dull grayish white, u-regularly 

 barred with dusky, except on lores, the bristly antrorse feathers of 

 which have long, hair-like, black tips; a more or less distinct broad 

 black bar across posterior margin of auricular region, and behind 

 this a broad transverse area of buff-pmk or light vinaceous-cmnamon, 

 narrowly and sparsely barred with black, this pinkish or vinaceous 

 color extending above to basal portion of ear-tufts and below crossing 

 throat, where narrowly barred with dusky; chin immaculate duU 

 white; rest of under parts dull white (the plumage, especially on 

 flanks, suffused with cinnamon-buff or pale cinnamon basally), very 

 heavily streaked with black (the streaks broader, spot-like on sides 

 of breast) and narrowly, though rather sparsely, barred with brownish 

 black, the bars confluent with the broad black mesial streaks; legs 

 dull brownish white, more or less strongly suffused with cinnamon 

 on thighs, rather heavily mottled with brown (more or less deep); 

 median portion of lower abdomen and anal region immaculate white; 

 under tail-coverts white, the longer ones with a subtermmal sagittate, 

 diamond-shaped, or cross-shaped, mark of dusky; under wing-coverts 

 dull brownish buff or pale dull cinnamon-buff, passing into whitish 

 on edge of wing, more or less streaked or spotted with dusky in a line 

 just within the whitish edge; under primary coverts plain dusky 

 brownish gray; under surface of remiges brownish gray, the second- 

 aries and proximal primaries broadly banded with pale buff, the 

 distal primaries not showing distinct lighter spots except toward 

 base; bUl pale grayish yeUow, yellowish gray, or dull greenish (in 

 dried skins); iris bright lemon yeUow; toes duU grayish brown (m 

 dried skins). 



Young. — Remiges and rectrices (if developed) as in adults; upper 

 parts duU grayish brown, indistinctly barred or transversely mottled 

 with dusky and duU grayish white, the latter on tips of the feathers; 

 under parts duU white, broadly barred with grayish brown. 



Rufescent phase. 



Adults (sexes alike). — Above light dull cinnamon-rufous, "^ relieved 

 by conspicuous mesial streaks of black, the back, scapulars, and wiiig- 



o The color is much lighter and duller than in the rufescent phase of 0. asio and ita 

 subspecies, and with the black streaks more conspicuous. 

 3622°— Bull. 50, pt 6—14 45 



