STRIGID.^ — THE OWLS. 



55 



the larger, more whitish, spots on primaries, and more distinct tail-bands, 



of asio. 



The Scops kennicotti must, however, be recognized as a well-marked geo- 

 graphical race, and, not taking into consideration any natural laws which 

 intluence changes in species, it would be very proper to recognize the valid- 

 ity of the present bird. If, however, the rule of which we speak will apply 



Scops asio, var. kennicotti. 



to others, as indeed it does to a majority of tlie birds of the region inhab- 

 ited by the 6cops kennicotti, the extreme conditions of some species of 

 which are even more widely different than in the present instance, and 

 which have been referred to their lighter representatives in consequence 

 of the applicability of this law, we cannot possibly do otherwise with it. 



In general appearance, size, and proportions, as well as in pattern and 

 tints of coloration, except in their details, there is a wonderfully close resem- 

 blance in this race of S. asio to the S. semitorques, Schlegel, of Japan. In- 

 deed, it is probable that the latter is also a mere geographical form of the 

 same species. The only tangible points of difference are that in semitorques 

 the jugulum is distinctly white centrally, there is a quite well-defined lighter 

 nuchal band, with a more indistinct occipital one above it, and the pencil- 

 lings on the lower parts are more delicate. The size and proportions are 

 essentially the same ; the shades of color are identical, while the markings 

 differ only in minute detail, their pattern being essentially the same. In 

 kennicotti the light nuchal collars are indicated, though they do not approach 

 the distinctness shown by them in semitorques. Should they be considered 



