28 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Genus SYRNIUM, Savigny. 



Syrnmm, Savigny, Nat. Hist. Egypt, I, 112; 1809. (Type, Strix aluco, L.) 

 Scotiaptex, Swains., Classif. H. II, 1837, p. 216. (Type, Strix ciwrea, Gmel.) 

 ? Ciccaba, Wagl. Isis, 1831. (Type, Strix hulmla, Daud.) 

 ? Pidsatrix, Kaup, 1849. {Strix torquattis,'DA.VD.) 



Gen. Char. Size varying IVom medium to very large. No ear-tufts. Head very large, 



the eyes comparatively 

 small. Four to six outer 

 primaries with their inner 

 wehs siiiuated. Tarsi and 

 upper portion, or the whole 

 of the toes, densely clothed 

 with hair- like feathers. 

 Tail considerably more 

 than half as long as the 

 wing, decidedly rounded. 

 Ear-orifice very high, but 



Syrnhim ncbulosum. "Ot SO high as the skull, 



and furnished with an an- 

 terior operculum, which does not usually extend along the full length ; the two ears 

 asymmetrical. Bill yellow. 



1^351 



Subgenera. 



Scotiaptex. Six outer quills with their inner webs emarginated. Toes completely 

 concealed by dense long hair-like feathers. Iris yellow. (Type, *S'. cinereum.') 



Syrnium, Swainson. Five outer quills with their inner webs emarginated. Toes not 

 completely concealed by feathers ; sometimes nearly naked ; terminal scutellas always (?) 

 exposed. Iris blackish. (Type, S. aluco.) 



The typical species of this genus are confined to the Northern Hemi- 

 sphere. It is yet doubtful whetlier 

 the Tropical American species 

 usually referred to this genus 

 really belong here. The genera 

 Ciccaba, Wagl., and Pidsatrix, 

 Kaup, have been instituted to in- 

 clude most of tliem ; but whether 

 these are generically or only sub- 

 generically distinct from the 

 typical species of Syrnium re- 

 mains to be decided. 



Our 8. ncbulosttm and S. occi- 

 dentale seem to be strictly con- 

 generic with the S. aluca, the 

 type of the subgenus Syrnium, since they agree in the minutest particulars 

 in regard to their external form, and other characters not specific. 



Syrnium nebulosum. 



