DISTRIBUTION OF BARN-OWLS. 3 



Mr. Ridgway gives it as a bird of Illinois (Ann. Soc. N. Y. x. p. 378). 



Although not recorded by Dr. Brewer, nor included by Major Ross in 

 his list of the ' Birds of Canada/ the Barn-Owl certainly straggles to the 

 neighbourhood of Toronto, as the Museum possesses an example (77) shot by 

 Mr. James Whitely near that city and obtained from his brother, Mr. Henry 

 Whitely, of Woolwich ; it is not to be distinguished from European 

 specimens of the ordinary type. Below orange-bufF, plentifully spotted with 

 dusky brown, though the spots are small ; bands on tail four, on quills Jive, 

 Total length 13*6 inches, wing 13*4, tail 6*0, tarsus 2'85, middle toe 1*4. 



0. Another specimen, presented by Sir E. Parry, is also probably from 

 America, north of the States. It is very like the European bird in its darker 

 phase; bars on quills/our, on tail four. Total length 12"5 inches, wing 11-8, 

 tail 5*5, tarsus 2*7, middle toe \'2. 



1. Mr. H. Doubleday has presented a specimen to the Museum, probably 

 from Delaware ; but, as in the case of the preceding example, the exact 

 locality has not been preserved. It is a bird of large size, and is also similar 

 to the dark form found in Europe ; bands on quills and on tail five. Total 

 length 15*5 inches, wing 14*0, tail 6*2, tarsus 3*2, middle toe 1'6, 



The Museum contains no more specimens from the United States, except 

 several from California, on w^hich I have the following observations : — 



K. Bio Sacramento, CaUfornia (Sir E. Belcher). Of a general golden 

 buff-colour, like the other Californian birds ; below orange-buff, slightly 

 inclining to white; on quills remains oi four bars, on tail oi five. Total 

 length 14*5 inches, wing 13'8, tail 6*0, tarsus 2*9, middle toe 1*45. 



A. San Angel, Lower California (obtained from Mr. Boucard). The grey 

 colour of the upper surface very dark, the orange which appears on the head 

 and back also very rich ; below^ dull orange-buff, with numerous dusky spots, 

 nowhere very thickly distributed ; remains of three bars on the quills and of 

 four on the tail. Total length 14*0 inches, wing 13*6, tail G'O, tarsus 2'65, 

 middle toe 1'45. 



