26 NEW- YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



GENUS SYRNIUM. Cuvier. 



Head not tufted. Nostrils large, elliptical. Bill convex to the end of the cere, then curved. 

 Ear moderate, with a semicircular operculum covered with hair. Facial disk complete. 

 Tail broad, rounded. Wings large and broad. Tarsus short, and with the toes feathered. 



THE GREAT GREY OWL. 



Syrnium cinereum. 



plate xiii. fig. 89. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



8trix cinerea, Gmelin. Bonaparte, Am. Ornith. Vol. 2, pi. 23, fig. 2. Id. Ann. Lye. N. York, Vol. 2, p. 436. 



Nottall, Man. Ornilh. Vol. 1, p. 128. 

 Cinereous Owl. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 77. 

 Great Cinereous Owl. Add. folio, pi. 351 ; Orn. Biog. Vol. 4, p. 364. Id. B. of A. Vol. 1, p. 130, pi. 35. 



Characteristics. Very large. Dark brown, mottled with whitish. Disk perfect, white, 

 with black concentric circles. Length, 24 - 30 inches. 



Description. Wings shorter than the tail, which is wedge-shaped, and extends three 

 inches beyond them. Eyes small. 



Color. Dark brown, mottled irregularly with white. The feathers on the upper part of 

 the head with two transverse spots on each web. Primaries rufous brown, with broad darker 

 bands. Tail obscurely barred. Beneath greyish, with dark brown spots, and varied with 

 yellowish. Feet not barred. Disks grey within, and marked with six to nine narrow regu- 

 lar concentric circles. Bill and feet yellow; the former almost hidden in the feathers of 

 the face, of which those on the inner angle of the eye, and around the bill, are black. 



Length, 25-0-30-0. 



The Great Grey Owl inhabits chiefly the arctic regions, and is a rare visiter within the 

 Union. It has been observed in Massachusetts, and will doubtless be found within our State, 

 but I have as yet no authentic statement to that effect. It is peculiar to this continent, and 

 its history incomplete. 



