62 



U S p. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL RtPORT. 



with cinereous. Under parts ashy white with longitudinal stripes of brownish black, and with transverse lines of the same 

 color ; face, throat and tarsi, ashy white, irregularly lined and mottled with pale brownish ; quills brown with transverse bands, 

 nearly white on the outer webs ; tail pale ashy brown with about ten transverse narrow bands of pale cinereous ; under wing 

 coverts white, the larger tipped with black ; bill and claws light horn color ; irides yellow. 



Younger. — Entire upper parts pale brownish red, with longitudinal lines of brownish black, especially on the head and 

 scapulars ; face, throat, under wing coverts and tarsi, reddish white ; quills reddish brown ; tail rufous, with bands of brown, 

 darker on the inner webs. 



Young — Entire plumage transversely striped with ashy white and pale brown ; wings and tail pale rufous. 



Total length 9j to 10 inches, wing 7, tail 3k inches. Sexes nearly alike in size and color. 



Hab. — The whole of temperate North America, Greenland, (Fabricius.) Spec, in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. 

 Philadelphia. 



This is the most abundant of the owls inhabiting the States on the Atlantic, and appears to 

 inhabit the entire territory of the United States and the more northern countries of this continent 

 within the temperate zone. In the present collections we find the first specimens that we have 

 ever seen from western North America. One specimen (No. 4530) from Washington Territory, 

 and others from California, in the collections made by Mr. Cutts and Mr. Samuels, (Nos. 4195, 

 5847,) are in the mottled or adult plumage; and one from Sacramento Valley, in Lieutenant 

 Williamson's collection, is in the red, or that of the immature bird. These specimens difi"er in 

 no respect from those of the eastern States. 



The two stages of plumage described above have been regarded as characterizing distinct 

 species, and they do present a problem scarcely to be considered as fully solved. This bird 

 pairs, and rears young, while in the red plumage ; and it is not unusual to find a mottled male 

 and red female associated, or the reverse. The two stages of plumage, or varieties, are very 

 similar to those of the Syrnium aluco of Europe, and of which there are other instances in this 

 family of birds. 



Unlike nearly all other rapacious birds, this owl holds its place throughout the country, 

 notwithstanding the destruction of the forest, or the denseness of the population ; and, though 

 well known to our rural population, and scarcely regarded favorably, is seldom molested. Its 

 food is principally insects. 



List of specimens. 



SCOPS McCALLII, C a s s i n . 



* The Western Mottled Owl. 



Scops McCallii, Cassin, B. of Cal. and Texas, I, p. 180. (1854.) 



In form and general characters much resembling Scops asio, but smaller ; form, stout and short ; wing rather long, with ths 

 fourth quill longest ; tail short, slightly curved inwards ; tarsi rather long, fully covered ; toes partially covered, with long 

 hair-like feathers. 



.adull. Ashy brown ; darker on tho upper parts, and every feather with a longitudinal stripe of brownish black, and with 



