281) BUBONID-E. 



to blackish on their hinder margin ; a very distinct ruff, formed of 

 dark brown feathers thickly mottled with white spots ; chin white, 

 as also the fore neck, which is slightly varied with brown cross 

 lines, and is sejiarated from the chin by a circlet of brown feathers 

 in continuation of the ruflf; rest of under surface of body white, 

 mottled with brown, taking the form of streaks on the flanks ; the 

 breast rather more spotted, the sides of the latter inclining to brown ; 

 leg-feathers white, spotted with brown ; the under tail-coverts almost 

 entirely white, excepting a few brown streaks on the outermost ; 

 under wing-coverts white, with small spots of brown, the greater 

 series ashy brown, spotted with white, resembling the inner lining 

 of the wing, which is ashy brown barred with white, these bars much 

 larger and more oval on the secondaries ; bill dirty yellow ; iris bi'ight 

 yellow. Total length 10-5 inches, wing 7'3, tail 4-8, tarsus 0-85. 



Adult male. Similar to the female, but slightly smaller. Total 

 length 9'.5 inches, wing 6-7, tail 4*4, tarsus 0'75. 



Ohs. My observations confirm those of Mr. D. G. Elliot and 

 others as to the impossibility of distinguishing the North-American 

 bird as a distinct species. Specimens in the Museum collection 

 measure as follows : — • 



Total 



length. Wing. Tail, 

 in. in. in. 



a. Arctic America 9-5 6-9 4-2 



b. Repulse Bav (J. Rm) 95 7 44 



c. S ■ Fort Simpson (B. R. Ross) 10-5 7-2 4-3 



Ml'. Eidgway considers that Amei'ican birds are separable from the 

 European as a geographical race. He writes : — '■'Nyctcile richardsoni, 

 though without doubt specifically the same as N. tengmalmi of 

 Europe, is nevertheless to be distinguished from it. The colours 

 of the European bird are very much paler ; the legs are white, 

 scarcely variegated, instead of ochraceous, thickly spotted ; the lower 

 tail-coverts have merely shaft-streaks of brown instead of broad 

 stripes. Very perfect specimens from Europe enable me to make a 

 satisfactory comparison." 



Hah. The whole of Xorthern Europe and Siberia ; not found in 

 Southern Europe, but occurring all over the central portions of the 

 continent. In Xorth America found in the high north, rarely oc- 

 curring within the United States. 



a. Ad. st. Northern Europe. Dr. Lidth de Jeude. 



b. Ad. sk. Northern Europe. Purchased. 



c. Pull. St. Wermland, May 18, 1872. Purchased. 



d. Juv. sk. Trondhiem, July 17, 1866. F. Bond, Esq. [P.]. 



e. Juv. sk. Archangel. " R. B. Sharpe, Esq. [P.]. 

 /. Ad. St. Archangel. R. B. Sharpe, Esq. tP.]- 

 g. Ad. sk. R. Ussuri, 48° X. lat. (Dr. Warsaw Museum [E.]. 



Dijbowski). 



h. Ad. St. Arctic America {Dr. Richard- Zoological Society. 



son), 



i. Ad. St. Repulse Bay. Dr. J. Rae [P.]. 



k. S ad. sk. Fort Simpson. B. R. Ross, Esq. [P.]. 



/. Skeleton. Sweden. R. B. Sharpe, Esq. 



