628 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS.— RAPTORES — STRIGES. 



the whole length of the opening. Head very large, appearing as broad as the body, and per- 

 fectly smooth, there being no plumicorns: facial disc complete and of great extent, the com- 

 paratively small eyes centric in the radiating feathers. Nostril in edge of cere, which is shorter 

 than rest of culmen. Bill yellow ; iris dark brown or black. Tail very long, f to | as long as 

 wings. Wings much rounded; 5 primaries sinuate on inner webs; ]st quite short. Feather- 

 ing of feet variable; tarsus always feathered, but toes wholly or partly feathered, or naked. 

 Plumage of under parts barred on the breast at least, if not throughout. Nest in trees; eggs 

 few. A large genus of " earless " Owls, chietly of the northern hemisphere, of medium to 

 large size ; ours about 1|- feet long. North America has at least two }>erfectly distinct species; 

 the commonest one of these, S. nebulosa, represents the European Tawny Owl, S. stridula, 

 badly miscalled " Syrnium aluco " by so many writers. As shown in my article on the genus 

 Aluco, Strix alnco Linn. ]758, is the European Barn Owl, Aluco flammeus, belonging to the 

 other ftimily of Owls. Furthermore, the genus Syrnium Savig. J 809, has no standing what- 

 ever in ornithology, being a mere synonym of Strix in the strictest sense. Hence the A. 0. U. 

 is in error in using Syrnium as the name of the present genus, as I was similarly in error in 

 the original edition of the Key, 1872. 



Analysis of Species. 



Under parts barred on the breast, elsewhere streaked. Length H feet or more. 



Toes fully feathered. Eastern U. S nebulosa 



Toes mostly naked. Florida to Texas alleni 



Under parts barred everywhere. Length under \h feet. 



Toes fully feathered. Western U. S occidentalis 



S. nebulo'sa. (Lat. nebulosa, clouded. Figs. 431, 432.) Barred Ow^l. Hoot Owl. 

 Rain Owl. American Wood Owl. Toes fully feathered, nearly or (juite t<t claws, which are 

 blackish; bill yellow ; iris black. Of medium size in the genus : length 18.00-20.00 ; extent 

 about 44.00 ; wing 12.50-13.50, rouuded ; tail 9.00-10.00, rounded. Markings of back and 

 breast in cross-bars, of belly in lengthwise stripes. Above, umber-brown or liver-color, every- 

 where barred with white or tawny, or both ; breast the same; 

 on belly the pattern changing abruptly t<^» heavy dusky shaft- 

 stripes on a white or tawny ground ; crissum the same ; feet 

 speckled with dusky ; wings and tail like back or rather 

 darker, regularly barred with gray, light brown or tawny, 

 some of the bars usually making white spots at their ends, 

 and marking of wing-coverts rather in spots than bars. 

 Lining of wings tawny, with some dusky spotting. Facial 

 i'^^i^j:):^^^^^!'^^^''*' disc set in a frame of black and white specks, with black- 

 ened eyelids, and obscurely watered with lighter and darker 

 F,u. 432. -Barred Owl, reduced. ^^^^^.^ ^^ ^.-^^^^^ around eye as a centre, the bristly feathers 

 about bill mixed black and white, or white at base, blackened terminally. A notably large 

 and somewhat impressive Owl of eastern North America, common in woodland of the U. S., 

 especially southerly (except the range of its subspecies alleni), west to Colorado; not rang- 

 ing much north of the U. S., though occurring in some parts of the Dominion of Canada; 

 replaced in Western U. S. by S. occidentalis, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific. It 

 is the commonest "hooting" Owl, the strange outbursts of midnight discord which one may 

 hear about the farm-house or camp-fire proceeding oftener from this species than from the 

 Great Horned Owl. It is strong enough to prey upon poultry, quail, rabbits and squirrels, as 

 well as humbler game, mostly mice, also frogs and other reptiles, insects, sometimes crustaceans 

 and fish ; occasionally it turns cannibal, and devours small Owls. It is thoroughly nocturnal, and 

 very seldom seen abroad by day, even in the thickest woods, whose umbrage is so congenial 



