STRIGID^ — THE OWLS. 



31 



The relationship between the Syrnium cincremn and the S. lapponicnm is 

 exactly parallel to that between the Otus vulgaris, var. wilsonianus, and var. 

 vulgaris, Surfiia ulula, var. Jmdsonia, and the var. uhda, and Nydale teng- 

 malmi, var. richardsoni, and the var. tengmalmi. In conformity to the 

 general rule among the species which belong to the two continents, the 

 American race of the present bird is very decidedly darker than the Euro- 

 pean one, which has the whitish mottling much more prevalent, giving the 

 plumage a lighter and more grayish aspect. The white predominates on the 

 outer webs of the scapulars. On tlie head and neck the white equals 



Syrnium cineremn. 



the dusky in extent, wliile on the lower parts it largely prevails. Tlie 

 longitudinal stripes of the dorsal region are much more conspicuous in Utp- 

 jjonicum than in cinereum. 



A specimen in the Schltitter collection, labelled as from " Nord-Europa," 

 is not distinguishable from North American exam])lcs, and is so very 

 unlike the usual Lapland style that we doubt its lieing a European speci- 

 men at all. 



Habits. The CJreat Clray or Cinereous Owl appears to be confined to 

 the more northern portions of North America. It is rarely met with in any 

 part of the United States, and only in whiter, with the exception of AVash- 



