HIRDS — SYRNINAK — NYCTAl.K AI.IilKKONS. 



57 



Though of frequent occurrence in the States on the Atlantic, this species has not yet been 

 ob-served in the countries west of the Rocky mountains. The only specimen in the present 

 collection is from the Territory of Nebraska, and is of especial interest as demonstrating the 

 most western locality yet determined for this bird. 



List of specimens. 



NYCTALE, Brehm. 



J^yclttU, Brehm, Isis, 1828, p. 1371. 



Size small. Head with very small ear tufls, only observable when erected ; eyes small ; bill moderate or not very strong ; 

 facial disc nearly perfect. Wings rather long ; tail sliort ; legs and toes densely feathered. 



Contains five species of small and quite peculiar owls, four of which are American and one 

 European. 



NYCTALE RICHARDSONI, Bonaparte. 



Ayc/a/e Richardioni, Bosap. Comp. List, p. 7, (1838.) 



" S/rix TVn^madni, Gm." Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, p. 559, and other American authors. 



Figures. — Fauna Boreali .Imericana, Birds, pi. 32 ; Add. B. of Am. pi. 380 : Oct ed. I, pi. 32. 



The largest of this genus, wings long. Upper parts pale reddish brown tinged with olive, and with partially concealed spots 

 of white, roost numerous on the bead and neck behind, scapulars, and rump. Head in front with numerous spots of white ; face 

 white, with a spot of black in front of the eye ; throat with brown stripes. Under parts ashy white, with longitudinal stripes of 

 pale reddish brown ; legs and toes pale yellowish, nearly white, sometimes barred and spotted with brown. Quills brown, with 

 small spots of white on their outer edges and large spots of the same on their inner webs ; tail brown, every feather with about 

 ten pairs of white spots ; bill light yellowish horn color ; irides yellow. 



Total length about lOi inches ; wing, 7i inches ; tail, 44 inches. 



Hab. — Northern North America, Canada, (Dr. Hall,) Wisconsin, (Dr. Hoy.) Spec, in Mus Acad. Philada. and Nat. Mus 

 Washington. 



Entirely a northern species, common at Hudson bay, but of rare occurrence within the limits 

 of the United States. The only notice of it as a western species is by Dr. Townsend, who gives 

 it as a bird of Oregon 



This species is nearly related to the European Nyctcde funerea, and both have been called 

 Strix lengmahni by various authors. 



NYCTALE ALBIFRONS, Shaw. 



S(riar alhifrons, Shaw, Nat Misc. V. (not paged, 1794.) 

 S(rix/ron(a/i3, Lichtenstei.v, Trans. Acad. Berlin, 1838, p. 430. 

 Xyctale A'irHonrfii, Hot, Proc. Acad. Philada. VI, p. 210, (1852.) 



FiccREi— Shaw Xat. Misc. V, pi. 171 ; Cassin B. of Cal. and Texas, I, pi. 11. 



Small, wing rather long ; tail short Head, upper portion of breast, and entire upper parts dark chocolate brown ; forehead 

 and e}"ebrow8 white. Throat and a line on each side running downwards from the base of the under mandible white ; other 



8 b 



