38 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



was indebted for tlie e^ig the parentage of wliioh is so unquestionable. It is 

 purely white, almost globular, and, except in shape, hardly distinguishable 

 i'roni the egg of the domestic Hen. It is 2.00 inches in length, and 1.G9 in 

 breadth. 



Syrnium occidentale, Xantus. 



WESTERN BABBED OWL; SPOTTED OWL. 



Siiniiiim occidcniah, Xa.ntu.s, P. A. N. S. riiihid. 1859, 193. — Baikd, liirds N. Am. App. 

 pi. l.wi. — CoVKs, Key, 1872, 204. 



Sp. Char. AduU ($, 17,200, Fort Tejon, California; J. Xantus. Typo of Xantus'.s do- 

 scription). Above deep uniber-brown, much tia in S. ncbidosum. Whole head and neek 



with circular and cordate spot.s of 

 white, one near the end of each 

 feather ; on the scapulars and back, 

 ruinj), winfr.-i, and tail, they aro 

 rather .sparse and more transverse, 

 but of very irrcftular form ; they 

 aro most conspicuous on the 

 scapulars and larj^er wiuff-coverts. 

 Secondaries crossed witii about 

 six bands of paler Ijrowii, each 

 s]iot {(rowing white on tlie edire 

 of the feather, — the last band 

 terminal ; primaries with .seven 

 transverse sei'ies of pale brown, 

 or brownish-white, quadrate spots 

 on outer webs, the last terminal; 

 these spots aro almost clear white 

 on the third, fourth, lifth, and 

 si.xth quills. Tail with aljout 

 eight very narrow, rather obsolete, 

 bands of pale brown, growing 

 whiter and more distinct ter- 

 minally, the last forming a con- 

 spicuous terminal band. Ground- 

 color of the lower parts dull white," 

 somewhat tinged with ochraceous laterally ; everywhere with numerous transverse spots 

 and bars of brown like the back, — this predominating anteriorly, the white forming spots 

 on opposite webs ; on the lower tail-coverts the transverse sjiots or bars are very sharply 

 defined and regulai', the brown rather e.Kceeding the white. Face, eyebrows, and lores 

 soiled brownish-white, the former with obscure concentric semicircles of darker brownish. 

 Facial circle blackish-brown, spotted posteriorly with white ; across the neck in front, it is 

 more broken. Legs white, with sparse obsolete transverse specks. Wing-formula, -l, 3, 

 5-0-2; 1=9. Wing, 13.10; tail, 0.00; cuhncn, .85; tarsus, 2.10; middle toe, 1.30. 

 Length, " 18 "; extent, " 40." 



Had. Southern Middle Province of United States (Fort Tejon, California, Xantus; 

 and Tucson, Arizona, Besdire). 



Syrnium occitUnlale. 



Habits. Nothing is on record concerning the habits of this bird. 



