STUlOin.K — THE OWLS. 4", 



My rpiison.s lor cmisidcriiif,' tlic X. <(lh\/'ivuit as the yniiii;,' uf JV. mwliat 

 are the tulli>\viii,i; (sen Aiuericiiii Natumlisl, May, 187:i): — 



Int. All sin'cimeiis cxaiiiined (incliulii)},' Hoy's tyjio of N. h'rflinitfi) avo 

 yoiiiij,' liinls, as is uiiiMislukaljly aiiliareiit IVnm tliu tcxluro of tli.'ir iilnmaj^c. 



Ud. All siK'ciiui'iis i'xamiiiui.1 of llio A', lamliva aro acUilts, 1 have seen 

 no (lesci'ii)tiiiii (if llie yniiii:,'. 



:!(l. The «,'eo<,'rai)hieal tlislrilmtiuii, the size and proportions, the pattern 

 of coloration fexcejit that of the head and hody, which in all Owls is more 

 or less ililU-rent in tiie youn^^ and adult stat,'es), and the shades of colors on 

 the j,'eneral upper phunaj^e, are the same in hoth. The white " scallopinj,' " 

 on the outer wob of the alula, the number of white spots on the primaries, 

 and the jn'ecise number and ]iosition of the white bars on the tail, are 

 features common to the two. 



4tli. The most extreme cxami)le of alhi/ivns has the facial circle uniform 

 brown, like the neck, has no spot.' on the forehead, and the face is entirely 

 uniform dark brown ; b>it, 



5th. Three out of the lour si)ecimens in the collection have the facial 

 circle com])osed of white and bnnvn streaks (adult feathers), i>reciaely as in 

 aradica, and the forehead similarly streaked (with adult fi'athers). Two of 

 them have new leathers appearing ujion the sides of the lireast (beneath the 

 brown iiatcli), as well as upon the face ; these new feathers are, in the most 

 minute respects, like the common (adult) dress of N. ucaiUca. 



The above facts [joint conclusively to the identity of the Xi/cfal)- " alhi- 

 froiis" and N. acadica. This species is easily di,stin<^uislial)le from the A^ 

 tf»f/)iialvii, which belongs to both continents, tlujugh the North American 

 and European specimens are readily separable, and therefore should be recog- 

 nized as geogra\ihical races. 



Since the above was published in the American Naturalist for jMay, 1H72, 

 Dr. J. "W. Velic^ of Chicago, writing under date of November 20, 187-', 

 furnishes the following proof of the identity of N " alhifrom" i\.i\y\.N.arndicci : 

 "In liSli.S, 1 kept a fine .siiecinien of " Xi/ddh' 'ilhifroiift" until it moulted 

 and became a tine specimen of Xi/rfn/e acadira. I had, until the fire, all the 

 notes about this interesting little species, and photographs in the different 

 stages of moulting." 



H.MUTs. The Little Acadian or Saw-Whet Owl, as this bird is more gen- 

 erally denominated, appears to have a widespread distribution over temperate 

 North America. It is not known to be anywhere very abundant, though 

 its nocturnal and secluded habits tend to prevent any intimate acquaintance 

 either with its habits or its numbers in any particular locality. It is rarely 

 found in the daytime out of its hiding-places. It was not met with V»y 

 Kichardson in the fur regions, yet it is generally supposed to be a somewhat 

 northern species, occurring only in winter south of Pennsylvania, but for 

 this impression there does not seem to be any assignalde reason or any con- 

 firmatory evidence. It has been said to breed near Cleveland, Ohio, and its 



