HORNED OWLS, ETC. 



187 



Distribution. Valleys and southern coast of California, and east to San 

 Francisco Mountain, Arizona. 

 Eggs. Usually 3. 



GENUS NYCTEA. 



376. Nyctea nyctea (Linn.). SNOWY OWL. 



Ear tufts rudimentary ; ear openings small, without anterior flap, the 

 two ears not distinctly different ; tail not reaching- beyond tips of longest 

 under coverts ; four outer quills emarginate ; toes covered with long 



From The Osprcy. 

 Fig. 250. 



hair - like feathers, partly or wholly concealing the claws ; bill nearly 

 concealed by loral feathers. Adult male : body pure white, sometimes 

 almost unspotted, but usually marked more or less with transverse spots 

 or bars of slaty brown. Adult female, : much darker, pure white only on 

 face, throat, middle of breast and feet, the head spotted, and the rest 

 of the body barred with dark brown. Male : length 20-23, wing 15.50- 

 17.30, tail 9.00-9.70, bill 1. Female : length 23-27, wing 17.30-18.70, tail 

 9.70-10.30, bill 1.10. 



