APPENDIX 



spots. An inhabitant of the dense forests of the Sierra Nevada Moun- 

 tains. Recorded by Belding as common in summer at Big Trees, 

 Calaveras County. 



35. Great Gray Owl; Scotiaptex cinerea (Gmel.). 



Length, twenty-eight inches. No ear tufts. Grayish brown above, 

 lighter gray beneath, mottled on the back with some suggestion of bars, 

 the breast streaked and the belly barred. A northern species occurring 

 in Northern California rarely or accidentally in winter. 



36. Saw-whet Owl; Nyctala acadica (Gmel.). 



Length, seven and a half inches. No ear tufts. Brown above 

 spotted with white ; below white, streaked with pinkish brown. A rather 

 rare resident of the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains. 



37. California Screech-Owl; Megascops asio bendirei (Brewst.). 

 Length, nine inches. Ear tufts visible. General color gray, browner 



above, grayer below, mottled and streaked with brownish and blackish 

 lines. A common resident of the valleys and foothills, especially in the 

 oak groves. 



38. Flammulated Screech-Owl; Megascops flammeola (Kaup.). 

 Length, seven inches. General color gray, mottled with blackish 



streaks; below white, streaked with blackish; rufous edgings and white 

 spots on the wing coverings. This species is technically distinguished 

 from the preceding by the absence of feathers on the toes. A very rare 

 species in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 



39. Dusky Horned Owl; Bubo virginianus saturatus Ridgw. 

 Nearly as large as the Great Gray Owl (length, twenty-four inches) 



from which it can be immediately distinguished by its conspicuous ear 

 tufts. This is the common hooting owl of the wooded regions. It is a 

 dark western variety of the great horned owl. Mottled and barred 

 brown, buffy, black and white. A white collar on the throat. In 

 southern California another local race is recognized — the Pacific 

 Horned Owl (B. virginianus pacificus, Cassin). 



40. Burrowing Owl; Speot^to cunicularia h^pogcua (Bonap.). 

 Easily recognized by its habit of frequenting open fields. No ear 



tufts. Length, nine and a half inches. Above grayish brown, spotted 

 with white; below whitish buff, barred with brown. The throat and 

 breast white, interrupted by a brownish bar. The feet very long and 

 slender for an owl, giving it a distinctive appearance. An abundant 

 resident of the open valleys and foothills of the State. 



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