606 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — RAPTORES— STRIGES. 



to 6.50 ; tail about 4.00. In the gray phase, very similar to asio proper, the upper parts being 

 in fact indistinguishable, but the markings of the under parts finer, more regular and continuous 

 over the whole surface ; in the ' red ' phase dusky umber-brown, quite unlike the bright rust- 

 color of asio. This state was long supposed to be the only one, and cliaracteristic of the bird ; 

 it occurs chiefly coastwise and far north, while the gray phase, only distinguishable from that 

 of asio as above said, seems to be the rule in the U. S. In size, some New England specimens 

 are fully up to the average oi kennicotti. West and Northwest N. Am., from Idaho to Sitka. 

 46Ga. S. a. bend'irii. (To Capt. Chas. Beudire.) California Screech Owl. No red phase 

 known to occur. Size of asio, and extremely like it, dififering chiefly in the finer, more 

 numerous and continuous cross-bars of the under parts, which cross the middle of the belly as 

 elsewhere ; the shaft-stripes also appear less blotchy. It is thus quite like the gray phase of 

 kennicotti, but smaller. The plumicorns are said to be shorter. Coast region of California, 

 common. I have gone carefully over a series of Scops, and appreciate the points lately made 

 by Mr. Brewster and Mr. Ridgway. If these fine shades are to be rect)gnized by name, the 

 present seems entitled to be named with the rest. 



467. S. a. maxwel'lse. (To Mrs. M. A. Maxwell, of Boulder, Colorado, a noted huntress and 

 taxidermist.) Colorado Screech Ow^l. Size of as«o; no red phase observed ; but, on t^e 

 contrary, the whole plumage very pale, almost as if bleached, the difterence evident in nestlings 

 even. Upper parts pale gray, with reduced black lines; lower whiter with reduced dark shaft- 

 lines and cross-bars, the scapular bar very conspicuous ; much white on wing-coverts ; white 

 spots on outer webs of several prhnaries running into continuous areas only indented with small 

 (lark spaces. Mountains of Colorado, and doubtless adjoining ones ; an alpine form. 



468. S. a. maccal'li. (To Col. Geo. A. McCall.) Texas Screech Owl. A small southern 

 form ; size of floridanus; gray and red phases, as in asio proper. Very similar to asio; in 

 the gray phase, the markings of the under parts finer, firmer, more regular and continuous, the 

 shaft-lines strict, not blotchy, the cross-lines sharp ; the stripes of the upper parts coarse, but 

 regular, and the nape with a tendency to present a light nuchal collar. Texas and southward, 

 to Guatemala. (S. maccalU Cass., 1854, 1858; CouES, 1872; S. asio var. enano Lawr., 

 RiDGw., Hist. N. A. B., iii, 1S74, p. 48, but not maccalli, ibid., p. 52.) 



469. s. a. florida'nus. (Of Florida.) Florida Screech Owl. A small southern form ; wing 

 5.50-6.00 ; tail about 3.00. Coloration as in asio; red phase frequent if not the usual one; in 

 its full development, the rusty makes quite firm broad cross-bars on the under parts, which is 

 not the rule in asio, though very evident in specimens from Southern Illinois, for example, 

 where the red is by far the most frequent plumage. Florida, and adjoining regions. 



♦TO. s. trichop'sis? (Gr. 6pi$, rpixos, thrix, triehos, hair, oyj/is, opsis, aspect.) An alleged 

 species, or a subspecies of asio, with which I am unacquainted. Described as having the bars 

 of the lower surface fine, nearer together than in asio, and much more uniformly distributed; 

 the general aspect being paler than in asio, with much finer venniculations (Ridgway). Cali- 

 fornia, New Mexico, and southward. (5. a. maccalli, Ridgw.. Hist. N. A. B., iii, 1874, p. 52 ; 

 S. trichopsis, Ridgw., Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1878, p. 114; but whether of Wagler, 1832?) 



4T1. S. flamme'ola. (Lat. flammeola, here signifjdng a little reddish thing.) Flammulated 

 Screech Owl. A small species, with much the general aspect of an ungrown -S". asio; but 

 the close feathering of the tarsus stops abruptly at the bases of the toes, which are naked, and 

 the plumicorns are (luite short. Length 6.50-7.00; wing 5.25-5.50; tail 2.75 ; tarsus 0.90; 

 culmen, without cere, 0.35 ; middle toe, without claw, 0.55. Adult ^ ?: Facial disc, some- 

 times whole head, rusty-rufous, or light chestnut, speckled with black, on the top of the head 

 also with white, tending to form a superciliary stripe. Ground of under parts white, but heavily 

 overlaid with shaft-stripes or blotches of black giving off irregular cross-waves, on the breast 

 tinged with rusty-rufous here and there ; tarsi white, speckled with dupky. Upper parts 

 minutely dappled with dark brown and hoary-gray, and with ragged dark shaft-stripes ; a con- 



