414 



BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



ing fine oohraceous on the tibias and tarsi; sides of tlie breast Uke tlie bacli, but of a 

 more reddisli or burnt-sienna tint; sides andflanlcs witli longitudinai daubs of tlie same ; 

 cliest, abdomen, lowertail-coverts, tarsi, andtibiiB, immaculate. Wing formula, 4-3-5-1-8. 

 ■Wing,5.40; tail,2.S0; eulmen,.50; tarsus,.80; middle toe,. 60. 



Seven specimens before me vary in length of wing from 5.25 to 

 5.80; tail 2.60 to 3.00 (female). The largest specimen is 12,053 

 (female, Fort Tejon, California: J. Xantus). This differs from the 

 specimen described, in whiter face, more conspicuous white streaks 

 on forehead, smaller, less numerous, red spots below, and in hav- 

 ing a fourth white band on the tail ; this, however, is very incon- 

 spicuous. There are no authentic males before me, though only 

 U\o are marked as females; the extremes of the series probably 

 represent the sexual discrepancy in size. 



Young male (No. 12,814, Racine, Wisconsin, July,1859; Dr. P. K. Hoy): Upper surface 

 continuous plain dark sepia-olive; face darker, approaching sooty blackish, perfectly 

 uniform; around the edge of the forehead, a few shaft-lines of white; scapulars with a 

 concealed spot of pale ochraceous on lower webs; lower feathers of wing-coverts with 

 a few white spots ; outer feather of the alula scalloped with white ; primary coverts per- 

 fectly plain; five outer primaries with white spots on outer webs, these diminishing 

 toward the end of the feathers, leaving only two or three series well defined; tail darker 

 than the wings, with three narrow bands composed of white spots, these not touching 

 the shaft on eitlier web. "Eyebrows" immaculate white, lores more dusky; face and 

 eyelids dark sooty brown; sides of the chin white. Throat and whole breast like the 

 back, but the latter paler medially, becoming here more fulvous; rest of the lower parts 

 plain fulvous ochraceous, growing gradually paler posteriorly. Lining of the wing plain 

 dull white; under surface of primaries with dusky prevailing, but this crossed by bands 

 of large whitish spots; the three outer feathers, however, present a nearly uniform 

 dusky aspect, being varied only basally. Wing formula, 3, 4-2-5-6-7,1. Wing, 5.50; tail, 

 2.80; culmen. .45; tarsus. .80; middle toe, .65. 



This handsome little owl is not an uncommon resident of the 

 more northern portions of the State and occasionally makes its 

 appearance during winter in the southern counties. According to 

 Mr. Nelson (p. 117 of his hst), it is "not an uncommon species" 

 in Cook county, being "of frequent occurrence in Chicago, where, 

 upon some of the most frequented streets in the residence portion 

 of the town, over a dozen specimens have been taken within two 

 years." Mr. H. K. Coale, of Chicago, informs me that he has ex- 

 amined or skinned thirty specimens in ten years. 



