80 



NORTH AMERICAN JtlRDw, 



Tlie genus is most largely (levoloimd within the tropical regions, only one 

 si>iic'\iiii {(r. ji((ssiriiui/ii) belonging to llie cold teniperute zone, und this is 

 found on Ixilli continents. They are the most robustly organized of all 

 Owls, and, for their size, are very i)rcdatory, as in the next genus {Mimithaie), 

 though tiiemselves lianlly li'rger than a S2)arruw, they frec^uently feed upon 



Glatiritliiim rali/ornictim. 



small birds, and, no douht, often destri>y the passerine species of nearly their 

 own size. Like the most of the grouj) to which this genus belongs, they 

 are diurnal in their habits, and Hy about during the brightest sunsliine. 

 Tliey inhabit chielly dense forests, and, for this reason, are less well known 

 than the more easily accessible Owls. 



The following synopsis includes onh' the North American and ^lexican 

 species of G/aiicidium. In tropical America are several others very distinct 



from those hero given. 



Species and Races. 



Common" OiLMiAiTKUs. Aliovo lirowii, varviiip' IVoiii nearly .trraj' to bricrlit. fi'rrii- 

 pinons, ill simic .-^pccii's this color interrnpti'il by a more or Ics.^j (li.>;iinr't wliiti.^h 

 niicliiil collar, willi an adjacent lilankisli s])ot (sometimes L'one(\-ilc(l) on each siiU^ 

 of the noek. Tail with nai'row band.-;. Beneath white, the .'<iiles .striped with 

 brown or blackish. Throat and jn<,ndtnn white, with a dusky c(jllar lietweon. 

 Crown s[)eekled or .streaked with lighter ; wings more or le.ss spotted with the 

 same. 



A« Mai'kings on the crown (nrcnlar, or dot-like. 



1. G. pasaeriuum. Tail wilh six to eight narrow white bands. Fppcr 

 jiarts varyiiiLT li'om brownish-grivy to cliopolate-lirown. Ground-color 

 of the lowci' part.'! |)ure while. 



Tail, and stripes on sides, not darker than the back ; tail-bands 

 .six, and continuous ; toes rather thickly feathered. Ilab. Europe. 



var. ]i a sse ri n u m} 



' Ohnin'iHiim pn.iirriniim, var. pn.i.irrinum . Stri.r pn.isrrinn, I.i\x. 1, IS'i, 17C6. Olavci- 

 diiini jiii.ixi-n'iiiiiii, iioiK, Isis, 182(i, it70. — Sii.vuim; & I)i;kss|-.i;, liinls Europe, 11, Ajiril, 1871. 

 Suriiiii piissrrhiti, Ki;vs. & lii.As. Wirb. Kuro)>. 32, 1840. Micmphinx passe rhifi, Kaip, C'oiitr. 

 Orii. 1852, 107. Xucdi" passn-vm, Sciil.i.i!. Mu.s. I'avs-Ha.s. S/rii/r.i, p. 41, 1862. SIri.r pusiHa, 

 Daii>. Tr. Orn. 11, 20ri, 1800. SInx piiijnwiu Br.ciisr. Xat. Deutsolil. IV, 978, t. x.xiv, 1805. 

 SIri.c ttcaiUcii, Tii.MM. Rbin. il'Orn. I, p. 90, 1820 (nee U.mki..). 



