STRIGID.E — THE OWLS. 29 



Species and Varieties. 



«. Scotiaptex, Swains. 



1. S. cinereum. Iris yellow; bill yellow. Dusky grayish-brown and gray- 

 ish-white, the former prevailing above, the latter predominating beneath. 

 The upper surface with niottlings of a transverse tendency ; the lower sur- 

 face with tlie markings in the form of ragged longitudinal stripes, which 

 are transformed into transverse bars on the flanks, etc. Face grayish -white, 

 witli concentric rings of dusky. Wing, 16.00 - 18.00 ; tail, 11.00 - 12..50. 



Dark markings predominating. Hab. Northern portions of the 



Nearctic Realm ......... var. cinereum. 



Light markings predominating. Hab. Northern portions of the 



Palgearctic Realm var. lapponicum. 



b. Syrnium, Sav. 

 Common Characters. Liver-brown or umber, variously spotted and barred 

 with whitish or ochraceous. Bill yellow ; iris brownish-black. 



2. S. nebulosum. Lower parts striped longitudinally. Head and neck 

 with transverse bars. 



Colors reddi.sh-umber and ochraceous-white. Face with obscure con- 

 centric rings of darker. Wing, 13.00 - 14.00 ; tail, 9.00 - 10.00. Hab. 

 Eastern region of United States ..... var. nebulosum. 



Colors blackish-sepia and clear white. Face without any darker 

 concentric rings. Wing, 14.80 ; tail, 9.00. Hab. Eastern Mexico 

 (Mirador) var. sartorii.^ 



Colors tawny-brown and bright fulvous. Face without darker con- 

 centric rings (?). Wing, 12.50, 12.75; tail, 7.30, 8.50. Hab. G-ua- 

 temala . . . . . . . . . xar. fulv escens .^ 



3. S. occidentale. Lower parts transversely barred. Head and neck 

 with roundish spots. Wing, 12.00-13.10; tail, 9.00. Hab. Southern 

 California (Fort Tejon, Xantus) and Arizona (Tucso-n, Nov. 7, Bendire). 



_ 1 Syrnium nebulosum, var. sartorii, Ridgway (Mexican Barred Owl). Hab. Mirador, 

 Mexico. Char. Adult (9. 43,131, Mirador, near Vera Cruz, Mexico, "pine region"; Dr. C. 

 Sartorius). In general appearance like nebiilosupi, but the brown very much darker, and less 

 reddish, — that of the markings below very nearly black ; the pattern, however, preci.sely the 

 same, and there is about the same proportion between the light and the dark bars as is seen in the 

 average of nebulosum. The face is plain dirty white without the brown bars or semicircles, — a 

 constant and conspicuous feature in nebulosum. There is the same immber of spots on the primaries, 

 and of bauds on the tail, as in ■)iebulosum. The white beneath is without any ochraceous tinge ;. 

 the primary coverts are plain dark brown. Wing-formula : 4 — 3 = 5; 1 intermediate lietween 

 8 and 9. Wing, 14.80 ; tail, 9.00 ; culmen, 1.05 ; tar.sus, 2.20 ; middle toe, 1.60. This race of the 

 *S'. nebulosuiii presents very appreciable differences from the bird of the United States. As stated 

 above, the brown is much darker and less reddish, while the face is wholly destitute of the con- 

 centric dusky rings seen in nebulosum pro]ier. To Dr. Charles Sartorius, who, by the presentation 

 to the Smithsonian Institution of numerous elegantly prepared specimens, has added so much to our 

 knowledge of the liirds of the vicinity of Mirador, I take great pleasure in dedicating this new form. 

 2 Syrnium nebiilosum, var. fulvescens. Syrnium fHlvescens,SAhvis, P. Z. S. 1868, 58. Char. 

 General appearance of var. nebulosum, but smaller and much more ochraceous. Ground-color of the 

 plumage ochraceous, inclining to a deep fulvous tint on the upper parts, but paler below. Feathers 

 of the upper surface tipped with dark umber-brown, and sometimes with an additional bar about 

 the middle of the feather. The fulvous bars much exposed, so as to exceed the brown in amount. 

 Face grayish -white, tinged outwardly with ochraceous. Beneath with the markings oi nebulosum 

 on a deep and uniform ochraceous ground. Wing, 12.75 ; tail, 8.50 ; culmen, .95 ; tarsus, 2.45 ; 

 middle toe, 1.20 (Coll. Bost. Soc, No. 367, Guatemala ; Van Patten). 



