STRIGID.E — THE OWLS. 53 



on the lower feathers ; tibite and tarsi with numerous transverse dusky bars. Wing, 5.40 ; 

 tail, 2.65; tarsi, LOO; middle toe, .63. No. 16,933 (same locality, etc.) is similar, but 

 smaller, measuring, 5.00, 2.00, 1.00, and .60. 



Hab. Southern Middle Province of United States; Lower and Southern California. 



LocaHties. (?) Oaxaca (Scl. 1858, 296) ; (?) Guatemala (Scl. Ibis, I, 220) ; (?) Texas 

 (Dresser, Ibis, 1856, 330). 



While the Scops maccalli is without doubt to be distinguished from S. asio, 

 its being specifically distinct is not a matter of so much certainty ; with a 

 simple statement of the differences between the two, I shall leave the 

 value of these differences to the appreciation of each one, according to liis 

 own fancy. The species is represented in the collection by but four speci- 

 mens, two adult and two young. I have not seen the red plumage as 

 described by Cassin. 



The characters of this race, as given in the diagnosis, appear to be really 

 constant ; and there is not a specimen in the series of those from the west 

 which may not readily be referred to one or the other. 



The gray adult maccalli differs from that of asio in the much finer mot- 

 tling of the general plumage ; the medial black stripes of the feathers above 

 being more sharply defined, and more distinct from the transverse zigzags. 

 Below, tlie transverse dark bars are mucli finer, and nearer together. Tlie 

 face, neck, and jugulum moi'e finely and uniformly barred. The white 

 scapular spots have not the black border seen in asio. The size is smaller. 



The young of maccalli differs from that of asio in much finer bars above, 

 the dusky rather prevailing ; below, also, the bars are finer and nearer to- 

 gether. 



It is not necessary to compare this bird with any other than the S. asio, 

 since it is not at all related to choliba, or any other southern species. 



Scops maccalli is entirely distinct from the ^S^. trichopsis, Wagler, not- 

 withstanding the statement in the Ibis, for April, 1872 (p. 6), that "the 

 name " is " really synonymous with >S^. trichopsis of Wagler, the bird being 

 quite distinct from S. asio, as has been pointed out elsewhere." (P. Z. S. 

 1868, p. 57.) 



Scops asio, var. kennicotti, Elliot. 



KENNICOTT'S OWL. 



Scops kennicotti, Elliot, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sc. Phil. 1867, p. 69 ; Illust. Am. Birds, pi. xi. — 

 Baird, Trans. Chicago Acad. Sc. I, ii, 311, pi. xxvii, 1869. — Dall & Bannister, Tr. 

 Chic. Ac. I, 1869, 273. —Gray, Hand List, \, 47, 1869. — Elliot, Illust. Birds Am. 

 I, XXVII. — FiNSCH, Abh. Nat. Ill, 28. — Scops asio, var. kennicotti, (Ridgway) 

 CouEs, Key, 1872, 203. 1 Scops asio. Coop. & Suck. P. R. R. Rept. XII, ii, 155, 

 1860 (all citations from northwest coast). 



Sp. Char. Adult ( (J, 59,847, Sitka, Alaska, March, 1866; Ferd. BischofF. Elhott's 

 type). Above umber-brown, with a reddish cast ; feathers confusedly mottled trans- 



