STRIGID.E. 97 



[27.] 10. Strix Acadica. (Latham, Gmelin.) American Sparrow Owl. 



Gentjs. Strix. Linn. Sub-genus. Noctua. Cuvier. 



Acadian Owl. Lath. Syn., i., p. 149, sp. 38, pi. 5., f. 2. 



Strix Acadica. Gmel. Syst., i., p. 296, No. 43. 



Strix Acadiensis. Lath. Ind., i., p. 65, sp. 44. 



Little Owl. (Strix passerina.) Wilson, iv., p. 66, pi. 34, f. 2. 



Strix Acadica. Bo nap. Syn., p. 38, sp. 31. 



Sp. Ch. S. (Noctua) Acadica, magnitudine Turdi Canori, remigibus primoribus maculis albis ter quaterve fasciatis : 



secundariis extus immaculatis, Cauda interrupts bi-fasciata. 

 Sp. Ch. American Sparrow Owl, the size of the Common Thrush, primaries crossed by three or four bands of 



white spots ; outer webs of the secondaries unspotted ; two interrupted bands on the tail. 



There can be no doubt that this is the species so admirably described and figured 

 by Wilson ; and there are circumstances which appear to corroborate the correct- 

 ness of the Prince of Musignano, in referring the Strix passerina of Wilson to the 

 Acadica of Gmelin, or rather of Dr. Latham, its original describer. The size 

 mentioned by both these writers is nearly the same. The two white bands on the 

 tail are not, indeed, particularly mentioned by the latter, who merely designates 

 them as " a few white spots ; " but his figure, faulty as it is, represents these 

 white spots as forming two bands. M. Temminck's description of the European 

 Owl, erroneously considered the Strix Acadica of Gmelin, is only applicable to our 

 bird in its size ; the colours of the tail and of the flanks appear quite different. 

 The only other northern species, liable to be mistaken for our bird, is the Strix 

 passerina of Temminck, which he describes as being of the same size as Stiix 

 Tengmalmi. Now, as our Strix Acadica is much smaller, it cannot be the same 

 with any of the three small Owls described in that author's Manuel. The Little 

 Owl of Pennant is so slightly mentioned, that it is impossible to ascertain what 

 particular bird the author had in view. It appears highly probable that he consi- 

 dered the t j American species, with another found in Sweden, to be mere varie- 

 ties, as he states the length to vary from eight to seven inches. — Sw. 



This Owl was not noticed on the route of the Expedition, but specimens were 

 sent from New Caledonia, by Mr. Archibald M'Donald. Wilson observes that 

 it " is a general and constant inhabitant of the middle States, but is found most 

 numerous in the neighbourhood of the seashore, and among woods and pine- 

 swamps. It rarely comes abroad during the day, but, if driven from its retreat, flies 



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