422 BiRPS OF n.LnfoiB. 



Genus NYCTEA Steihens. 



Xyrtea STEPHENS, Hhaw'8 Ocn. Zoi'.l. xiii. |.|. li. IKX. Kl. Tyi><'. Slrir frmrnia Shaw. - 

 S. gcaiuliara LiNN. 



Gen. Chaii. Size very Inructliu lu-inl niinimriitlvfly i<miill,aiiil uilhout obvious oiir- 

 tutta. Loral d-atlirrs vi>ry loncalimist i'oiii'calinc ilu- Mil. ami lialr-IIko f<>atli«T» of tin- 

 toi'B nearly liicllne tlii> I'laws. Lower tall-i'overts cxti-iiillni; <iiilt<' to tli(> tip of tin' t<iil. 

 Color of atlults pun- wliit''. ri'llovt'd l>y inoro or less numerous liars of sinte-eolor. 



The genus Nyrtea is closely related to Biiho, and has been united 

 with the latter as a subgenus. They seem to be suflBciently dis- 

 tinct, however, as tlie following differential characters may sen-e to 



si low : 



Bubo. Two to tliri'e outer QUllls with their iuner webs eitiarginated. £ar-tu(ts well 

 developed; loral feathers not hiding the hill, and the elawa and terminal scutclla! of the 

 toes exposi'd. Lower tail-eoverts not reaehint; the end of the tail. 



Nyotea. Four outer quills with their inner webs einaruinated. fjir-tufls rudfmen- 

 t4iry; lorul feathers hiding the bill, and <'laws and entire toes eoneealed by loni; hair-like 

 feathers. Lower tail-covorts reaching to the end of the tall. 



Nyctea nyctea (Linn.) 



SNOWY OWL. 



Popular synonynu. (ireat White Owl; Snow Owl; Ermine Owl. 



,S7,/./- m/rlrn Linn. S. X. ed. 10.i.l758,'.«.-WlLS. Am. Orn. iv. 1812,53. pi. 32. fig. l.-Sw. \- 

 KlCH. F.B.-A. ii, 1831,88.— NOTT. Man. 1. Wfi, UC— AuD. Orn. Biog. iv.l8:M.i:t6: v. WB. 

 pi. 121. 

 Surnia m/dea Sei.bV. ISB.— Aud. Synop. 1839.21; B. Am. i. 1*4(1.113, pi. 28. 

 Sirix aiaudiaia Linn. S. N. ed. 12. i. 1700. i;t2, 

 .\urlfa srandiara Newt. ed. Yarrell's Hist. Brit. B. ed. 4. iii. ISK. 187. -B. B. & R. Hist. 

 N. Am. B. iii, 187J. «1 (var. .•j.-n/u/mcn).— Rroow. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881. No. .iue.- 

 COUES. B. X. W. 1874. .'1119; 2d Cheek Li.st. 18S2. No. 479. 

 Strir arrliva Baiitu. Truv. 1?J1. 289 (Pennsylvania). 



Xvctea acaitiliava var. nrctira B. B. & R. Hist. X. Am. B. 111.1874. CI. 70. 

 SIrix tiivea Thunb. Sv. Sk. Handling. 1798. 84. 

 yuclfa iih'ea Gkay. 1844.— Cass, in Baird's B. N. Am. 18i8. 63.— Baikd. Cat. X. Am. B. 

 18S9.N0.61.-COUES, Key, 18?2, 275; Cheek List 1874, No. :)25. 



Si>. Chab. Adult. Oround-eolor entirely snow-white, this marked with transverse 

 bars of elenr dusky, of varying amount in different individuals. 



Male (No. 12.059. Washington. D. C. Deeember 4. 18.'i8: C. Drexler): Aeross the top of 

 the head. and interspersed over the wings and seapulars. are small transversely eordate 

 spots of elear brownish black, the.se inelining to the form of regular transverse bars on 

 the scapulars; there is but one on eaeh feather. The secondaries have mottled bars of 

 more dilute dusky; the primaries have spots of black at their ends; the tail has a single 

 series of irregular dusky spots crossing it near the end. Abdomen, sides, and flanks 

 witli transverse ereseentle bars of elenr brownish black. Wing, lti.50; tail, 9.00; culmcn, 

 l.lKi; tarsus. 1.90; middle toe. 1..10. Wing formula. 3.2=4-5.1. 



Fi-male (No. 12.058. Washington, D. C, December4, 18581: Head above and nape with 

 each feather blackish centrally, producing a conspicuously spotted appearance. Rest of 

 the plumngo with regular, sharply dollned transverse bars of clear brownish blnek; 



