STEIGID.E — THE OWLS. 



41 



white, and the tarsi are more thickly spotted ; no other differences, however, are appreci- 

 able. Two specimens from Quebec (17,064 and 17,065; Wm. Cooper) are exactly similar 

 to the last, but the numerous white spots on the forehead are circular. 



Had. Arctic America ; in winter south into northern liorder of United States ; 

 Canada (Dr. Hall) ; Wisconsin (Dr. Hoy) ; Oregon (J. K. Townsend) ; Massachusetts 

 (Maynard). 



The Nydale richardsoni, though, without doubt, specifically the same as 

 the N. tcngmalmi of Europe, is, nevertheless, t(^ be distinguished from it. 

 The colors of the European bird are very much paler ; the legs are white, 

 scarcely variegated, instead of ochraceous, thickly spotted ; the lower tail- 

 coverts have merely shaft-streaks of brown, instead of broad stripes. Very 

 perfect specimens from Europe enable me to make a satisfactory comparison. 



From an article by Mr. D. G. Elliot in Ibis (1872, p. 48), it would appear 

 that the young of N. tcmjmulmi is very 

 different from the adult in being darker 

 and without spots ; a stripe from the 

 eye over the nostrils, and a patch 

 under the eye at the base of bill, 

 white. It is probable, therefore, that 

 the American race has a similar plu- 

 mage, which, however, has as vet 

 escaped the honor of a name ; more 

 fortunate than the young of N. acadica, 

 which boasts a similar plumage. This 

 {N. cdhifrons) Mr. Elliot erroneously 

 refers to the iV. tcngmalmi, judging 

 from specimens examined by him from 

 the Alps, from Eussia, and from Nor- 

 wav. The most strikino; difference, 

 judging from the description, apart 

 from that of size, appears to be in the whiter bill of the tcngmalmi. 



Habits. This race is an exclusively northern bird, peculiar to ISTorth 

 America, and rarely met with in the limits of the United States. A few 

 specimens only have been obtained in Massachusetts. Dr. Hoy mentions it 

 as a bird of Wisconsin, and on tlie Pacific Dr. Townsend met with it as far 

 south as Oregon, where it seems to be more abundant tlian on the eastern 

 coast. 



Mr. Boardman thinks that this Owl is probably a resident in the vicinity 

 of Calais, where, however, it is not common. It was not taken by Professor 

 Verrill at Norway, Maine. Mr. J. A. Allen regards it as a very rare 

 winter visitant in Western Massachusetts, but obtained a specimen near 

 Springfield in December, 1859. In the same winter another was shot near 

 Boston, and one by Dr. Wood, near Hartford, Conn. Mr. Allen subsequently 

 records the capture of a specimen in Lynn, Mass., by Mr. J. Southwick, in 



Xi/rtale ric/ianlsoni. 



VOL. III. 



