iSgi-T Bui'-WSTi-K. Drsm'/^t/oiis of Nc.v nirds. T43 



the two forms. It is to be expected, of course, that the liirds 

 will prove to intergradc at points where they approach one 

 another, a probability already indicated by a specimen (No. 

 16,037) in the National Museum from Fort Crook, northern Cal- 

 ifornia, which is about intermediate in size, between the types of 

 bendirci and macfarlanci. 1 am informed by Capt. Bendire tliat 

 there is quite as appreciable a difFerence in size between the eggs 

 of these Owls as between the skins, the average measurements of 

 twenty-six eggs of M. bcndirei in his (the Natit)nal Museum) 

 collection being 35 X 30 mm. with extremes of 36 X 33 mm. and 

 33 X 38 mm., against the average 37.5 X 33 mm., and extremes 

 of 39 X 33.5 and 35 X 31.5 mm-, "f twenty-seven eggs of M. 

 macfarlanci. 



M. saUiratns is dichromatic. In its gray phase, which is 

 represented by two specimens (including the type) before me it is 

 strikingly different from any other form of the genus which I 

 have examined. At first sight the upper parts appear to be 

 nearly uniform dark slaty brown with the faintest possible tinge 

 of reddish and some dull black shaft stripes on the feathers of the 

 top of head and hind neck besides a little half concealed rusty 

 fulvous on the ear-tufts and nape ; but closer inspection reveals 

 innumerable black or blackish markings very generally distri- 

 buted but so confused and crowded and so slightly contrasted 

 against the dark background as to be nowhere conspicuous. The 

 ground color of the under parts is essentially ashy white with a 

 little rusty on the jugulum and a slight tinge of fulvous on the 

 breast and sides. 



In the red phase the upper parts are much as in kotnicotti, but 

 the tawny or rusty is less pronounced and the general coloring 

 deeper and duller, while the wings and tail are more ashy. The 

 best distinction, however, consists in the much greater amount of 

 white on the face and under parts, especially on the superciliary 

 region, lores, chin, and abdomen, which are nearly or quite free 

 from any tawny tinge. All the specimens from Victoria are con- 

 siderably smaller than the type of kennicotti, but one from New 

 Westminister is larger although in other respects it is typical sat- 



uratus. 



It is possible, of course, that the type* of ketinlcotii is aber- 



»1 have seen no Alaskan specimens except this type, and am not aware that any 

 exist in collections. 



