BIRDS OF KANSAS. 295 



Sp. CIIAI:. "Adult; Upper surface transversely mottled with blackish brown 

 and grayish white, the former predominating, especially on the dorsal region; 

 feathers of the nape and wings (only) ochraceous beneath the surface, lower 

 scapulars with a few obsolete spots of white on inner webs. Primary coverts 

 dusky, with transverse series of dark mottled grayish spots, these becoming 

 somewhat ochraceous basally; ground color of the primaries grayish, this espe- 

 cially prevalent on the inner quills; the basal third (or less) of all are ochra- 

 ceous; this decreasing in extent on inner feathers; the grayish tint is everywhere 

 finely mottled transversely with dusky, but the ochraceous is plain; primaries 

 crossed by a series of about seven quadrate blackish brown spots, these anteri- 

 orly about as wide as the intervening yellowish or mottled grayish; the interval 

 between the primary coverts to the first of these spots is about .80 to 1.00 inch 

 on the fourth quill the spots on the inner and outer feathers approaching the 

 coverts, or even underlying them; the inner primaries or, in fact, the general 

 exposed grayish surface has much narrower bars of dusky. Ground color of 

 the wings like the back, this growing paler on outer feathers, and becoming 

 ochraceous basally; the tip approaching whitish; secondaries crossed by nine or 

 ten narrow bands of dusky. Ear tufts, with the lateral portion of each web, 

 ochraceous; this becoming white, somewhat variegated with black, toward the 

 end of the inner webs, on which the ochraceous is broadest; medial portion clear, 

 unvariegated black. Forehead and postocular disk minutely speckled with 

 blackish and white; facial circle continuous brownish black, becoming broken 

 into a variegated collar across the throat. 'Eyebrows' and lores grayish white; 

 eye surrounded with blackish, this broadest anteriorly above and below, the pos- 

 terior half being like the ear coverts. Face plain ochraceous; chin and upper 

 part of the throat immaculate white, ground color below pale ochraceous, the ex- 

 posed surface of the feathers, however, white; breast with broad longitudinal 

 blotches of clear dark brown, these medial on the feathers; sides and flanks, 

 each feather with a medial stripe, crossed by a broad or broader transverse bars 

 of blackish brown; abdomen, tibial plumes, and legs plain ochraceous, becoming 

 nearly white on lower part of tarsus and on the toes; tibial plumes with a few 

 sagittate marks of brownish; lower tail coverts each having a medial sagittate 

 mark of dusky, this continuing along the shaft, forking toward the base. Lin- 

 ing of the wing plain pale ochraceous; inner primary coverts blackish brown, 

 forming a conspicuous spot." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. Cere. 



Male 14.00 36.25 11.50 6.00 1.25 .65 .35 



Female... 15.00 37.75 12.00 6.25 1.30 .75 .35 



Iris yellow; bill and claws brownish to bluish black. 



This species appears to be rather evenly distributed through- 

 out its range, and is one of the most common Owls in the 

 United States; but being strictly nocturnal, is seldom noticed. It 

 inhabits the scrubby thickets and underbrush skirting the streams, 

 and I have flushed the birds in tall, rank growth of reeds and 

 grasses. Unless suddenly startled they seldom take wing, pre- 



