36 HARRY C. OBERHOLSER. 



dusky; libiae dull biilT, indistinclly barrod wiih dusky. 



Megascops ßammeolus ida/ioensis difiers from M. flam- 

 mcoltiü in the narrow loiif^itudinal slreaking and less 

 conspicuoiis vermicnlaüon bolow, Uiose prodiicing a 

 mnch liglilcr surlace ; in the palcr linl of Ihe ochraceous 

 of face and rufl"; in tho very liltb» black ofruU', crown and 

 occiput. The upper siirface also is rather paler, with 

 smaller and less evident black markings. The dilTerence 

 in size, which has been considered so good a character 

 in the Separation of Ihis form, was based largely npon a 

 mistake in Ihe original wing measurement of the type; 

 and tested by the specimens now at band proves to be of 

 no consequence whatever. Considering the nature of the 

 characters distinguishing these two forms, as well as the 

 existence of examples more or less intermediate, subspe- 

 cific rank seems the proper one for idahoeiisis. 



k specimen, taken near the mouth of the Snake River 

 in the state of Washington, is very similar to the type in 

 every respect, though rather darker below, owing to the 

 somewhatgreater coarseness and freqnency of the vermic- 

 ulations. The pluniage above is throughont slightly 

 paler, and the rnfous on the head a little dnller, on nape 

 rather lighter; bnt these differences are due nndonbtedly 

 to the wear incident to the breeding season. The chin is 

 bnify ochraceous, not buft'y white; the rufous of crown, 

 face and ruff is darker, with more of blackish in the last. 



A Flammnlated Owl from the San Bernardino Mountains, 

 California, dilfers markedly from flummeoiiis proper in 

 the rather paler upper parts and much lighter under 

 surface, the shaft streaks being decidedly narrower, the 

 cross vermiculations much less conspicuous and less 

 numerous. This bird is very like idalioensis^ di Hering 

 from the type of that form in the somewhat greater 

 amount of black on the forehead and crown; the much 

 brightcr rufous of the nuchal band ; increascd amount of 

 white on exterior webs of primaries, greater coverls, and 

 alnla; rather coarser vermiculations below; more rnfous 

 admixturc in the plumagc of the head ; darker rufous and 



