﻿214 FIELD AND FOREST. 



of the race, there being apparently much less of individual variation 

 than in other forms of the species. This new race is a mountain bird, 

 and possesses the distinctive features of alpine or boreal races in gen- 

 eral, the size being larger and the colors very much paler than in the 

 low-land races, even from much higher latitudes. In the colors, there 

 is in all specimens an entire absence or but faint indication of any 

 rufous tints, while the rufous phase of other forms is never assumed, 

 as indeed, curiously enough, seems to be the case with the species 

 throughout the western half of the continent, even where (as in Califor- 

 nia) the gray birds cannot be distinguished from individuals in cor- 

 responding plumage from the Atlantic States. 



From its allies, Scops maxwelliaz, may be distinguished as follows : — 

 Ch. — Ground-color above pale gray or grayish brown, relieved by the 

 usual ragged mesial streaks of black, and irrrgular mottlings or vermicu- 

 lations of lighter and darker shades ; the ground-color, however, never 

 inclining strongly to reddish, and no darker in shade than a very 

 light ash-gray or brown. The white spots on the outer webs of the 

 primaries frequently confluent along the edge of the feathers, the dark- 

 er spots being in extreme cases hardly visible on the basal portion 

 of the quills when the wing is closed. Face grayish white, with faint 

 vermiculations of darker grayish. No rusty gular collar, but in its 

 stead, sparse, narrow bars of brown or rusty, on a white ground. 

 Lower parts with white very largely predominating. Wing, 6.80-6.90 ) 

 tail, 3.90-4.10; culmen, .60; tarsus, 1. 45-1. 50; middle toe, .80-. 85. * 

 Hab. -Mountains of Colorado (Mus. Mrs. Maxwell ; also collection of 

 R. Ridgway.) I name this new form in honor of Mrs. M. A. Max- 

 well, not only as a compliment to an accomplished and amiable lady, 

 but also as a deserved tribute to her high attainments in the study of 

 natural history. 



Robert Ridgway. 



* Before me are three specimens of the typical form (a. asio) in gray plumage 

 which are so much alike that if the labels were removed they could scarcely be dis- 

 tinguished. Two of these, a pair, are from the coast of California ; the other, an 

 adult ^ , is from Virginia. Their measurements compare as follows : 



9 



Fairfax Co., Va. 



6.50. 



3-7o 



rP 



Nicasio, Cal. 



6.30. 



3-5° 



V 



" " 



6.60. 



3-65 



