156 ZOOLOGY. 



Figures.— WilEOn, Am. Orn. IV, pi. 33, fig. 3; Aud. B. of Am. pi. 410; oet. eJ. I, pi. 38; Nat. Hist. New York, Birds, 

 pi. 12, fig. 27. 



Sp. Ch. — About the size of the last, but easiJy disliDguishcd by its very short ear tufts, (nearly concealed by the feathers,^ 

 aud by its buff or pale fulvous color. No. — , (17,) Spokane Plain, October 30, 1853; male. Length, 15.50; extent, 38; 

 iris, cere, and toes yellow. No. 8791, (164,) North Fork, Platte river, Nebraska, August 20, 1857. Length, 14; extent, 

 41.50; wing, 12 inches. 



I first met with the marsli owl on the Great Spokane Plain, where, as in other places, it was 

 commonly found in the long grass during the day. In fall and winter it appears in large num- 

 bers on the low prairies of the coast, though not gregarious. On cloudy days it sometimes 

 liunts, flying low over the meadow.-^, like the marsh hawk, but is, properly, nocturnal. This owl 

 is not often persecuted by small birds, though it no doubt often makes a meal of them. I have 

 not observed it during summer in the Territory.^ — C. 



A bird, apparently the short-eared owl, was seen by me in November, 1858, on a marsh near 

 a small lake, about three miles below Fort Dalles. — S. 



Sub-Family SYRNINAE.— T h e Gray Owls. 



SYRNIUM CINERUM, Audubon. 



The Great Gray Owl. 



Slrix cinera, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 291, (1788.) 



Strix accUimator, Bartram, Travels, p. 289, (1790.) 



Syrnium cinereum, Aud. Synop, N. A Birds, p. 26. 



Synium einermm, (Gsi ) Baird & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, p. 56. 



FiCURis —Fauna Bor. Am. pi. 31; Aud. B. of Am. pi. 351; oct. ed. I, pi. 35; Nat. Hist. New York, Birds, pi. 13, fig. 20. 



Sp. Cn.^ — The largest owl of North America, and not easily to be mistaken for any other, being i\ntufted, and of u nearly 

 uniform dark gray color, mottled and baned with ashy white. No. 9138, (80,) Shoahvater bay, June 16, 1854. Length, 

 25; extent, 56 inches; iris, yellow. Female. 



The great cinereous oiul I found common only in one locality near the mouth of the Columbia 

 river. Tliey frequented a brackish meadow, partially covered with small spruce trees, in wiiich 

 they sat concealed during the day, and frequently made short flights from one to another. 

 Though there were many jays and other birds about, they did not attack these owls, as they 

 would certainly have done with the horned owl. The specimen having been shot in June, I 

 have no doubt that some of these owls are constant residents and build near that locality. — C. 



NYCTALE A CADI C A, Bonaparte. 

 Saw-whet Owl. 



Striz acadica, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 296, (1788.) 



Strix acaditnsia, Lath. Ind. Orn. I, pi. G5, (1790.) 



" Strix patferina, LiNX." Wilson, Am. Orn. IV, p. 66. 



Kyctale acadica, Bonap. Eur. and N. Am. Birds, pi. 7. 



NyclaU acadica, (Gm.) Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, p. 58. 

 Figures.— Lath. Gen. Syn. I, pi. 5, fig. 2; Wilson, Am. Orn. IV, pi. 31, fig. 1; Aud. B. of Am. pi. 193; oct. ed. I, pi. 33; 

 Nat. Hist. New York, Birds, pi. U, fig. 23. 



Sm.ill, n ings long, tail short. Upper parts reddish l>rown, tinged with olive; head in front with fine lines of white, and on 

 the neck behind, rump, and scapulars, with large partially concealed spots of white. Face ashy wliito; throat white; under 

 parts ashy white, with longitudinal stripes of pale reddish brown; under coverts of wings aud tail white. Quills brown, 



