MEGASCOPS. 2G1 



color of upper sui-nxcc in general usiiullj- more or less broken by lighter and darker 

 venniculations. Young, with whole plumage, excepting remiges and tail-feathers, 

 simply barred or narrowly banded with dull grayish or whitish, the longitudinal 

 and other markings being wholly absent. KesHing : Entirely white. Ifest in holes 

 in trees. Eggs 2-6. 



a\ Toes more or loss distinctly feathered or bristled on upper side. 



b\ Dichromatic ; the plumage presenting two totally distinct phases, one gray- 

 ish, the other bright rufous, which have no relation to sex, age, or season. 

 (Eastern races.) 

 c*. Larger, the wing averaging more than 6.00. 



Length 7.50-10.00, wing 6.00-7.10 (6.43), tail 3.05-3.50 (3.26). 

 Eggs 1.39 X 1-18. Hdb. Eastern f^nited States and British Prov- 

 inces, except lower portions of South Atlantic (and Gulf?) States, 



west to Great Plains 373. M. asio (Linn.). Screech Owl. 



c'. Smaller, the wing averaging less than 6.00. 



d^. Much darker than M. asio, with markings on lower parts more 

 numerous and more extended. Gray phase, deep grayish 

 brown, varying to decided umber-brown, above ; legs usually 

 deep brownish, thickly barred with darker. Rvfous phase, 

 more richly colored than corresponding plumage of 21. asio, the 

 legs usually bright rusty. Wing 5.60-6.40 (5.98), tail 2.65-3.20 

 (3M). Eggs 1.28 X lH- -Cf"^- Lower South Carolina and 

 Georgia, and whole of Floi-ida. 



373a. M. asio floridanus (Ridgw.). Florida Screech Owl. 

 (P. Slightly darker than M. asio, with light mottlings on upper parts 

 (in both phases) much coarser and more conspicuous. Rufous 

 phase with rufous predominating on lower parts. Length 6.50- 

 9.00, wing 5.60-6.30 (5.96), tail 3!l 0-3.40 (3.28). Eggs 1.31 X ll^- 

 Sab. Southern Texas and eastern Mexico, south to Guatemala. 

 373i. M. asio trichopsis (Wagl.). Texan Screech Owl. 

 6'. Monochromatic; the plumage presenting in all individuals essentially the 

 same character, corresponding to the graj-ish phase of the eastern races. 

 (Western races.) 

 c\ Smaller, the wing averaging less than 6.75. 



(P. Plumage nearlj' pure ash-gray above, the usually broad blackish 

 (33.) mesial streaks in conspicuous contrast ; blackish bars on lower 



parts very numerous, narrow; black border to face without 

 admixture of brown, and black spots on breast usually without 

 distinct brown exterior suffusion ; lenijth about 6.50-8.00, wini; 

 6.10-7.00 (6.41). tail 3.10-3.70 (3.44). " Eggs 1.34 X 1-16. Jfab. 

 Northwestern Mexico and contiguous border of United States, in 

 Arizona and Xew Mexico, north to Colorado (Colorado Springs). 

 373/. M. asio cineraceus (Ridqw.). Mexican Screech Owl.' 



» Cy. The Auk, .xii. Oct. IS'Ji, iW. 



