DISTRIBUTION OF BARN-OWLS. 275 



L. A female, also from Cambridgeshire (^Baker), has much fewer spots 

 on the breast, and the general aspect of the bird is paler ; the gular feathers 

 of the ruff distinctl}^ tipped with black, forming a gorget ; bands on tail 

 four in number, very distinct, the feathers more mottled with brown at the 

 tip than in the foregoing male ; remains of three bars on the quills. Total 

 length 12*5 inches, wing IT?, tail 5'0, tarsus 2"3, middle toe r2. 



The following is a summary of my observations Avith respect to Strix 

 Jlammea in Great Britain :^ 



1. Two phases of plumage in the Barn-Owl are met with in England. 



2. In the light phase the old bird gets a perfectly white tail, sometimes 

 with a few remains of bars. 



3. The bird in its dark phase is always more richly coloured, and has 

 the wing and tail distinctly barred. Every portion of the plumage is darker, 

 and the ends of the quills and of the tail-feathers are mottled with dull grey. 



4. In the light phase the tail is often white at the tip, with some bars 

 which, from their generally imperfect condition, seem to indicate that they 

 disappear gradually, leaving the tail white. 



5. In the dark phase these bars are always retained, and the tail never 

 gets white or uniform. 



6. The amount of spotting on the breast is a worthless and variable 

 character, for it is found in both phases, but perhaps gets less with age. 



7. There is a tendency to a more distinctly rufous facial disk in the 

 dark phase. 



8. The number of bars on the quills and tail is a variable character. 

 The general number in both phases is four, but on two occasions I have 

 found five. This difference does not depend on sex. 



The Barn-Owl is found in most parts of continental Europe, but does 



2 p 



