SHORT-EAKED OWL. 125 



the American continent in winter as far south as Pennsyl- 

 vania. Two specimens are said to have been brought from 

 the Sandwich Isles, and Mr. Gould has seen examples from 

 Brazil, and the Straits of Magellan. 



The head of this species is small compared with that of 

 Owls generally ; the tufts, about three-quarters of an inch 

 long, formed of three or four feathers, which can be elevated 

 or depressed at pleasure ; the beak is black ; the irides golden 

 yellow ; the feathers radiating from around each eye, forming 

 the facial disk, are dark, almost black at the base, but becom- 

 ing lighter in colour and mixed with brown towards the end, 

 those pointing in the direction of the beak hiding the cere ; 

 the facial disk suiToundcd by a whitish line or border ; top of 

 the head, neck, back, and wings, patched with very dark 

 brown : the feathers edged with fawn colour ; Aving-coverts 

 with a few roundish spots of yellowish white ; wing-primaries 

 pale reddish brown, barred with dark brown, and ending 

 with speckled ash grey ; upper surface of tail feathers buff 

 colour, with five transverse bars of very dark brown ; the chin 

 white ; all the under surface of the body pale buff, with lon- 

 gitudinal patches of blackish brown on the neck and breast, 

 and streaked with the same colour on the belly and flanks ; 

 thighs, legs, and upper surface of the toes covered with short, 

 uniform, hair-like, pale buff-coloured feathers ; under surface 

 of the toes naked ; claws almost black, curved and sharp. 



The whole length from fourteen to fifteen inches. Wings, 

 when closed, reaching beyond the end of the tail. The fe- 

 males are larger than the males ; but the differences In the 

 plumage of the sexes are not very obvious. 



