;-5TRIGrD.E — THH OWLS. 



56 



tho krfior, morn wliitisli, spots nii priniarics, ami more distinct tail-l.amls, 



(if a.sio. 



Tim Srop.^ hnuiimtti innst, lioweviT, Iks inconnized as a wcU-niarkcd ^'eo- 

 firaj.liical race, and, ii<«t taUiu- into consideration any natural laws wliich 

 "nlliicncc clian.Kcs in species, it would bo very imiper to recognize the valid- 

 ity of the present l.iril. If, however, the rule of which wo si^ak will apply 



Stops avn, vnr. kfnnicotti. 



to others, as indeed it does to a majority of the Inrds of the region inhab- 

 ited by the .sV'jyw knuiiroffi, the extreme conditions of some species of 

 which are even more widely different than in the ])resent instance, and 

 which ha\e been referred to their lighter representatives in consecpience 

 of the applicability of this law, we cannot ]M)ssildy do otherwise with it. 



In general appeaniiice, size, and proportions, as w(dl as in pattern and 

 tints of coloration, except in their details, there is a wonderfully close resem- 

 blance in this race of S. nnin to the X sniiHori/ncs, Sehlegel, of Japan. In- 

 deed, it is ])robable that the latter is also a mere gco2;rai)hical form of the 

 .same species. The only tan,uil)le ]ioiiits of difference are that in .frinitorquci 

 the juguluni is distinctly white centrally, there is a quite well-defined lighter 

 nnelial band, with a more indistinct occipital one above it, and the iiencil- 

 lin.us on the lower parts are more delicate. Tlu; size and proportions are 

 es.sentially the same ; the shades of color arc identical, while the markings 

 differ only in minute detail, their pattern being es.sentially the same. In 

 kcnnicofti the light nuchal collars are indicated, Ihoiigli they do not approach 

 the distinctness .shown by them in scmitoi-qiws. Should they be considered 



