284 RELATIONSHIP OF THE AMERICAN WHITE-FRONTED OWL. 
type of N. Kirtlandii) are young birds, as is unmistakably appar- 
ent from the texture of the plumage. 
2nd. All specimens examined of the N. Ane are adults; I 
have seen no description of the young. 
3rd. The geographical distribution, the size and proportions, 
the pattern of coloration (except that of the head and body, which 
in all owls is more or less different in the young and adult stages) 
and the shades of color on the general upper plumage, are the 
sane in both. The white ‘ scalloping” on the outer web of a 
alula, the number of white spots on the primaries and the 
number and position of the white bars on the tail, are features — 
common to the two. y 
4th. The most extreme example of “ albifrons” has the facial 
circle uniform brown, like the neck, has no pte: on the forehead, 
and the face is entirely uniform dark brown; but 
oth. Three out of the four specimens in the collectia wee l 
facial circle composed of white and brown streaks (adult ge : 
precisely as in Acadica, and the forehead similarly streaked (wi z 
adult feathers). Two of these have new feathers appearing upon 
the sides of the breast (beneath the brown patch), as well as p 4 
the face; these new feathers are, in the most minute be : 
common (adult) dress of N. Acadica. 
Fhe above facts point conclusively to the identity of the = 
“albifrons” and N. Acadica. This species is easily distingu! : 
from the N. Tengmalmi which belongs to both continents, 
the North American and European specimens are distinguish 
and, therefore, should be recognized as geographical races: — 
I give below a brief synopsis of the two species, and the 
cipal list of synonymes belonging to each :— 
DIFFERENTIAL CHARACTERS OF NYCTALE. 
Tengmalmi and Acadica. 
Cna Pa 2 io a ae jati oli er 
MMON rsus longer than d = 
. Square: Kea sites primaries AERE on ias webs, their end ie 
bowed; 3d quill longest. Upper parts generally i 
w bars 
brown. Young: Facial circle and forehead plain piace brown; 
unvariegated, white; face plain dusky ; lower parts with 
plain chocolate brown; the abdomen, ete., plain ochraceous. 
