■2 7 2 Stephens, Nezv California Birds. T 



Auk 

 Oct. 



The Desert Partridge differs from the Gambel's Partridge much 

 as the Valley Partridge does from the California Partridge, and 

 from the same cause, the drier habitat. 



Speotyto cunicularia obscura, subspec. nov. Dusky Bur- 

 rowing Owl. 



Subspecific characters. — Smaller than vS. c. hypogcea ; facial disk sepia, 

 mixed with grayish; top of head sepia, streaked with dull brownish 

 white ; entire plumage slighth* tinged with rusty. Length (of type), 

 8.65 inches (220 mm.); extent, 21.65 (550); wing, 6.20 (158) ; tail, 3.10 

 (79) ; tarsus, 1.65 (42). Type, No. 151,022, U. S. National Museum 

 (original No. 5S74), $ ad., 29 May, 1S94, l-'pper Lake, Lake Co., Cal., 

 alt. 1400 ft., F. Stephens, Col. 



Habitat. — The valleys of the Pacific Coast District north of San Fran- 

 cisco Bay, perhaps excepting the lower valleys tributary to the Bay. 



From the nature of the region Burrowing Owls are scarce all 

 through it. The type is the only one I remember seeing. It is 

 very dark about the head, especially about the face, which at first 

 glance seems to be dirty, as if blood stained. The style of color- 

 ation is what might be expected in this region, being in the same 

 direction as in Bubo v. saturatiis, CaUipepla califoniica and CoJaptes 

 c. saturatior. 



