Taken in Monterey County 



THE CHAMPION 



Photo by the Author 



Authorities. — Lawrence {Ephialtes choliba), Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., vol. vi., 

 1853, p. 4 (Sacramento) ; Brewster, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, vol. vii., 1882, p. 31 (orig. 

 desc. ; type locality, Nicasio) ; Bendire, Life Hist. N. Am. Birds, vol. L, 1892, p. 361; 

 Emerson, Condor, vol. viii., 1906, p. 29 (red phase); Swarth, Condor, vol. xvii., 1915, 

 p. 167 (Eureka; crit.), Bonnot, Condor, vol. xxiv., pp. 30, 31 (voice.) 



No. 216c Sahuaro Screech Owl 



A. O. U. No. 373L Otus asio gilmani Swarth. 



Synonyms. — Arizona Screech Owl. Formerly called Mexican Screech 

 Owl. 



Description. — Adult: Somewhat similar to 0. a. bendirei, but much paler and 

 grayer, — ashy gray tone sustained nearly throughout; under plumage heavily and 

 finely mottled gray (with customary' black streaks); the upper plumage slightly rufes- 

 cent; the disc-feathers of throat somewhat modified, those of the middle broadly 

 black-ribbed, those of the side with rib suppressed distally, and sharply cross-barred 

 instead. Length of adults: 190.5-228.6 (7.50-9.00); male: wing 152.6 (6.01); tail 76.5 

 (3.01); bill from cere 12.9 (.51); female: wing 156.5 (6.16); tail 75.1 (2.96); bill 13.5 

 (-53)- 



Remarks. — This form represents the extreme in another line of divergence from 

 0. a. ncevius, viz., the maxwellice-aikeni-gilmani group. There is a hiatus between its 

 range and that of bendirei (or qnercinus Grinnell), and there is no suspicion of inter- 

 grading between them. 



This also is known as a monochromatic form, i. e., it has no recognized rufescent 

 phase; but a specimen taken by Dr. Cooper at Ft. Mohave on the Colorado River in 

 1861 (Mus. Vert. Zool. No. 4395) is decidedly warm in tone throughout, possibly the 

 effect of fading. 



IIO4 



