436 



country, of another species of the same group, we think proper to 

 introduce it regularly into the Fauna of the United States. 



SUBGENUS 1. bis. BUBO. 



Bubo, Syrnium, Sav. Cuv. 



Conch of the ear moderate, oval, with a membranous oper- 

 culum. Feet thickly covered to the claws with short feathers. 



* Head tufted. (Bubo, Cuv.) 



Disk of feathers not well marked. 



27. Strix virginiana, Gm. 



** Head not tufted. (Syrnium, Cuv.) 



Disk of feathers perfect and well marked. 



27. bis. Strix cinerea, Gm. Dark brown mottled with whit- 

 ish ; face white, with black concentric circles ; tail reaching 

 beyond the wings ; both fasciated, the bands mottled ; bill 

 yellowish-white ; irides yellow. 



Cinereous Owl, Strix cinerea, Nob. Am. Om. pi. 23. Jig. 2. 

 Strix lapponica ? Retz 9 Temm ? 



Inhabits Arctic America : an accidental winter visitant of 

 the north-western territory : common throughout the year at 

 Hudson's Bay : found in winter at Fort William on Lake 

 Superior. Length more than two feet. The largest Ameri- 

 can species. 



Note 5. Strix acadica.. On a recent examination of this bird, 

 I ascertained that the auricular conch and its operculum, are as 

 large as in any of the genus, by which it may at once he known 

 from S. passerina. We cannot sufficiently regret, that authors 

 should be so unanimous in neglecting this important character of 

 the ears in owls. Owing to this neglect, we are unable, even at the 

 present moment, to decide whether our S. acadica is the S. aca- 

 dica, or S. Tengmalmi of Temm. and other modern authors. 



Note 6. Strix flamm'ea. S. bubo, and S. phalcenoides of 

 Daud. are also indicated by Say in Long's Ex. and several other 

 species are stated to inhabit North America. We have also heard 

 Mr. Audubon mention a small species with a deeply forked tail ! 



