486. 
170. 
487. 
516 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — RAPTORES— STRIGES. 
M. whit/neyi. (To Prof. J. D. Whitney.) Exr Own. ¢, adult: Above, light umber- 
brown, thickly marked with irregular angular pale brownish dots, one on every feather, and 
minutely undulated with lighter and darker color. A concealed white cervical collar, this color 
occupying the middle of the feathers, which are brown at their ends and plumbeous at base. 
A white scapular stripe, the outer webs of the scapulars being almost entirely of this color. 
Wings like the back ; lesser coverts with two pale brownish spots on each feather ; middle and 
greater coverts boldly spotted with white at the end of the outer web of each feather, and with 
pale brown spots near the end. Quills with 3 to 6 pale brown spots on each web, forming 
broken bars, mostly. passing to white on the edge of the feathers, those on a few intermediate 
primaries almost white. Tail-feathers like the wing-quills, with 5 broken bars and one ter- 
minal, of pale brownish whitening on the inner webs. Lining of wings white, interrupted 
with dark brown. Face and region about eye white, below it barred with light and dark 
brown ; bristles at base of bill black on terminal half. Chin and throat white, forming a broad 
mark from side to side. General color of under parts whitish, the breast blotched and imper- 
fectly barred with brown, forming toward the abdomen large patches, the sides more grayish, 
the flanks plumbeous, tibiz narrowly barred with light brown and dusky. Tarsal bristles 
whitish ; those of the toes yellowish ; bill pale greenish ; iris bright yellow. Length 5.75-6.25 ; 
extent 14.25-15.25 ; wing 4.25-4.50; tail 2.00-2.25 ; tarsus 0.80-0.90. Arizona and south- 
ward; a very curious little owl, not yet well known, few specimens having been secured. The 
general habits, nesting, and food, appear to be similar to those of the gnome owls. 
SPEO'TYTO. (Gr. oméos, speos, a cave; turd, tuto, a kind of owl.) BurRRowine Ow Ls. 
Q€ medium and rather small size. Head smooth; no plumicorns; ear-parts small, non-oper- 
culate ; facial disc incom- 
plete. Nostril opening in 
the tumid cere. Wings of 
moderate length; 2d to 
4th quills longest; 1st 
about equal to 5th; two 
or three sinuate on inner 
webs near the end. Tail 
very short, only about 
half as long as the wing, 
even or scarcely rounded. 
Tarsi extremely long, 
about twice as long as 
the middle toe without its 
claw, very scant-feathered 
in front, bare behind; toes 
bristly. The long slim 
Fic. 360, —Bills and feet of Speotyto, nat. size. Lower, S. hypogea; upper, legs are quite peculiar (fig. 
S. floridana. (Ad nat. del. R. R.) 360). A genus confined 
to America, where there are several varieties of apparently a single species, of diurnal and 
terrestrial habits, noted for inhabiting underground burrows. : 
S. cunicula/ria hypoge’a. (Lat. cunicularia, a burrower; Gr. éméyecos, hupogeios, under- 
ground. Fig. 361.) Adult ¢ 9: Above, dull grayish-brown, profusely spotted with whitish ; 
the markings mostly rounded and paired on each feather, but anteriorly lengthened. Quills 
with 4 to 6 whitish bars, entire or broken into cross-rows of spots; tail-feathers similarly marked. 
There is much individual variation in the tone of the ground-color, and size and number of the 
spots, which may also be rather ochrey than whitish. Superciliary line, chin, and throat, white, 
the two latter separated by a dark brown jugular collar; auriculars brown; facial bristles black- 
