780 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



rical, regularly obliquely oval, much shorter than diameter of eye, 

 without marginal flap or transverse ligament. Wing moderate, with 

 longest primaries decidedly exceeding longest secondaries; sixth, 

 seventh, and eighth, seventh and eighth, or sixth and seventh*^ pri- 

 maries longest, the tenth (apparent outermost) not longer (usually 

 shorter) than distal secondaries ; four outer primaries with inner webs 

 emarginated or sinuated. Tail a little less than two-thirds to slightly 

 more than three-fourths as long as wing, moderately or slightly 

 rounded or (sometimes, at least, in G. siju) shghtly double-rounded; 

 rectrices twelve. Legs and feet very strong, the tarsus about as 

 long as middle toe without claw, densely clothed, all round, with soft 

 hairlike feathers, the upper surface of toes bristled (feathered basally 

 in G. imsserinum) . 



Coloration (of American and European species). — Above brown or 

 rufous (sometimes more or less barred or spotted), interrupted by a 

 more or less distinct collar across lower hindneck of whitish or rusty 

 usually with more or less distinct indications of an interrupted black- 

 ish one immediately below; tail barred (the bars sometimes obsolete 

 in rufous phases); under parts white, usually immaculate medially 

 but laterally striped, spotted or otherwise marked with brown, 

 rufous, or blackish. 



Range. — Europe (one species), Africa, southern Asia, South and 

 Central America, Mexico, and western United States north to 

 British Columbia; one species in Cuba. (About 30 species, including 

 subspecies.) 



KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF OI-AUCIDIUM. 



a. Nostrila opening near center of cere; sides and flanks longitudinally striped. 

 (Glauddium.) 

 b. Pileum spotted or dotted in adults. 

 c. Back more or less spotted or barred, at least beneath surface; sides of breast 

 more or less spotted or barred; tail with five to eight white or cinnamon- 

 rufous bands. 

 d. Fourth and fifth primaries (counting from outside) longest; tips of outer 

 primaries broad; tail with only five white bands or less (in rufous phase 

 both tail and remiges broadly banded with cinnamon-rufous); general 

 coloration much darker, with spots on pileum larger, and those on scap- 

 ulars more transverse. (Costa Rica to Venezuela and Peru.) 



Glaucidium jardinii (p. 782). 

 dd. Fourth primary longest, the third usually longer than fifth; tips of outer pri- 

 maries narrow; tail with six to eight white or whitish bands; general 

 coloration much lighter, with spots on pileum smaller and those on 

 scapulars less transverse. 

 e. Stripes on under parts dark brown or blackish, relatively narrower; larger, 

 with relatively longer tail (taU not less than 57 mm.); feathering of tar- 

 sus longer, extending more over base of toes. (Glaucidium gnoma.) 



a Third, fourth, and fifth, third and fourth, or fourth and fifth from outside, not 

 counting the rudimentary eleventh (first) primary. 



