412 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



is conspecific with the single Palsearctie species, N. tengmalmi. A 

 third species, the N. harrisi Cassin, belongs to northern South 

 America (Colombia). 



Com. Chae. Adults. Above brown, more or less spotted with white; beneath white, 

 broadly striped with reddish brown. Young. Above uniform brown, the wings and tail, 

 however, marked with white, as la the adult Face uniform dusky surmounted by con- 

 spicuous white "eyebrows." Lower parts uniform brown anteriorly, and uniform bright 

 ochraeeous posteriorly. 



1. N. tengmalmi riehardsoni. Wing, 7.20 inches or more; tail about 4.50; culmen, .60; 

 tarsus, 1.00; middle toe, .07. Bill yellow. 



2. N. aeadica. Wing, 5.25-5.50; tail, 2.60-3.00; culmen, .i&-.50: tarsus, .80; middle toe, 

 .60-.65. BiU black. 



Nyctala tengmalmi richardsoni (Bp.) 



EICHAEDSON'S OWL. 



Popular synonym. Sparrow Owl. 



Strix tengmalmi Sw. & Rich. F. B.-A. 11,1831,94, pi. 82, {nee Gmel.).— Nutt. Man. 1, 1832, 

 562.— AUD. Orn. Biog. Iv, 559, pi. 380. 

 TTlula tengmalmi Ann. Synop. 1829, 24; B.Am, i, 1840, 122, pl. 32. 

 2/yctale richardsoni BotiAP. Comp. List, 1838, 7.— Cass, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1853, 57.— 

 Baied, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, No. 55. 

 Xyctale tmgmalmi var. rlchardscni EmGVf.—OovES. Key, 1872,205; Cheek List. 1874, 



No. 327; B. N. W. 1874, 313.— B. B. & R. Hist. N. Am. B. ill. 1874. 40. 

 INyctale tengmalmi 7-ic/ia?-dsoniRiDQW. Nom. N.Am. B. 1881.No. 400.— CouES,2d Check 

 List, 1882, No. 482. 



Hab. Northern North America; south. In winter, to New England (New Hampshire, 

 Massachusetts, and Rhode Island), Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and Oregon. 



Sp. Chak. Adult. Upper surface brownish olive or umber-brown. Forehead and 

 crown with numerous elliptical (longitudinal) marks of white, feathers everywhere with 

 large partly concealed spots of the same; these spots largest on the neck and scapulars 

 —on the latter of a roundish form, the outer webs of those next the wing being almost 

 wholly white, the edge only brown; on the nape thespotsform Y-shaped marks, the spots 

 themselves being somewhat pointed; below this is a transverse, less distinct collar, of 

 more concealed spots; wing-coverts, toward the edge of the wing, with a few largo, 

 nearly circular, white spots; secondaries with two transverse series of smaller white 

 spots, these crossing about the middle, remote from the end and biase; outer feathers of 

 the alula with two white spots aloug the margin; primary coverts plain; primaries witli 

 four or live transverse series of white spots; tail with the same number of narrow trans- 

 verse spots, forming interrupted bands, the spots not touching the shaft— the last spot not 

 terminal. Facial circle much darker brown than the crown, and speckled with irregular 

 spots of white, these either median or upon only one web; across the throat the circle 

 becomes paler brown, without the white spotting. Eyebrows and lace grayish white; 

 lores and eyelids blackish. Lower parts white, becoming pale ochraeeous on the legs; 

 sides of the breast, sides, flanks, and lower tail-coverts with daubs of brown (sUghtly 

 lighter and more reddish than on the back), those of the breast somewhat transverse, but 

 the posterior ones decidedly longitudinal; front of tarsus clouded with brown. Wing, 

 about 7.20; tail, 4.50; culmen, .60; tarsus, 1.00; middle toe, .97, 



