THE CALIFORNIA SCREECH OWL. 363 



The eggs of the California Screech Owl are similar to those of the com- 

 mon eastern bird, but, notwithstanding that it is somewhat larger than the 

 latter, their eggs average a trifle smaller. 



The average measurements of twenty-six specimens in the U. S. National 

 Museum collection is 35 by 30 millimetres, the largest egg measuring 36 by 

 32, the smallest 32 by 28 millimetres. As tliere is so little difl'erence in the 

 eggs of the various races of this genus, I have not figured one in every case. 



125. Megascops asio kennicottii (Elliot). 

 kennicott's screech owl. 



Scops kennicottii Elliot, Proceedings Academy Natural Sciences Phila., 1867, 69. 

 Megascops asio kennicottii Stejnegeb, Auk, 11, April, 1885, 184. 

 (B — , C 318a, R 402d, C 4GG, U 373tZ.) 



Geographical range : ISTorthwest coast region, soiithern AlaskR, from Sitka 

 south probably to northern British Columbia. 



Mr. William Brewster has recently rearranged the genus Megascops, and 

 described three new subspecies in the Auk (Vol. viii, No. 2, April, 1891, 

 pp. 139-144), which I include. According to this new arrangement Kenni- 

 cott's Screech Owl, an extremely dark tawny colored race, is confined to the 

 southern coast regions of Alaska from the vicinity of Sitka, south probably 

 to northern British Columbia. 



The type, No. 59847, U. S. National Museum collection, a male, was 

 taken by Mr. Ferdinand Bishop, at Sitka, March, 1866, and remains, so far 

 as I am aware, unique in collections. 



It is likely to be a constant resident wherever found, and there is prob- 

 ably no difference in its nesting habits and eggs from those of other members 

 of this genus. It is one of the largest of the several races of Screech Owls. 



126. Megascops asio maxwelliae (Ridgway). 



ROCKY MOUNTAIN SCREECH OWL. 



Scops asio var. maxiuellice, Ridgway, Field and Forest, June, 1877, 210, 213. 

 Megascops asio maxwellicE- Stejneger, Auk, 11, April, 1885, 184. 

 (B— , C — R 402c, C 467, U 373e.) 



Geographical range: Foothills and adjacent plains of the eastern Rocky Moun- 

 tains from Colorado north to Montana. 



The Rocky Mountain Screech Owl is the lightest colorea and, in my opin- 

 ion, the handsomest of the geographical races of Screech Owls found in the 

 United States. Comparatively little is as yet known regarding the extent of 

 its breeding range. As far as I am aware it has only been found along the 

 foothills amonsT the cottonwood timber of the creek bottoms on the eastern 



