116 SHUFELDT. [Vot. III. 
merge with the anterior parts of the continuous humeral and 
ventral tracts at the shoulder. A few feathers are also found 
at the hinder part of the fossa between the limbs of the os frr- 
cula. The ventral tract is divided ; the inner branch being long 
and narrow, composed, as it is, of only two rows of contour 
feathers. Either row passes almost in a direct line to the outer 
margin of the vent on the same side, being strictly defined for 
the lower moiety of its course; more diffuse above. On the 
other hand, the external branch is very broad, and strongly 
marked, as shown in Fig. 2, — its postero-external angle throw- 
ing upwards towards the shoulder ‘‘a hook” of large contour 
feathers; the area at the outer aspect of the breast between 
this latter line and the external branch of the ventral tract is 
diffusely feathered with a number of large feathers. 
Nitzsch evidently had a specimen of the present species (of. 
cit. p. 70), but I am very much inclined to believe that it was 
in poor condition, from what he says about it, and the next form 
he describes (Strzx pygme@a) ; probably in moult, and kept too 
long besides. In any event he failed to note the characters I 
have just given for the pterylze of the ventral aspect of this 
owl’s body. Anteriorly the legs are pretty well feathered, and 
sparsely distributed down-like feathers of no great size cover 
the tarsi in front, and become exceeding small as they pass to 
the toes on their upper surfaces. It is said that the shanks are 
more extensively denuded in the Floridan form of the Burrow- 
ing Owl.! 
Our subject has its “alar tracts” strongly marked, the 
feathers being regularly disposed on their dorsal aspects, con- 
sisting of a row of four or five feathers running from each quill 
in the direction of the patagium. 
Dorsally, the spinal tract shows a conspicuous fork at a point 
between the shoulders, as shown in Figure 1 of the Plate, and 
a single and more feeble row of feathers connect the apex of 
either limb of this bifurcation, with the hinder part of the 
spinal tract where it begins again, in the middle line. From 
this latter point, it grows stronger and broader once more, and 
upon approaching the large papilla of the uropygeal gland, it 
surrounds that structure; the caudal region between it and the 
rectrices being well feathered. 
1 Cougs, E., Key to North American Birds, 2d ed., p. 517. (S.¢. floridana.) 
