106 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The differences between Scops asio and the species here called 8. tri- 

 chopsis do not, it is true, seem to be very great, according to the charac- 

 ters given above. It is not the amount of difference, however, between 

 these two forms which has induced me to recognize them as distinct 

 species, but the constancy of the differences pointed out; 8. asio having 

 in every one of its numerous geographical and local races the bars of 

 the flanks, etc., coarse and frequently double, while all the specimens 

 of S. tricliopsis which have come under my notice have these bars much 

 finer and denser, with no disposition to be arranged in pairs. Mr. 

 Sharpe also lays stress upon the same differential characters. 



5. SCOPS ASIO. 

 a. asio. 



Strix asio [ == rufous phase], Linn., S. N. I, 1766, 132 (based on Noctua aurita minor, 

 Catesb., Carol. I, 73. — Asio scops carolinensis, Briss., Orn. I, 497). 



Scops ncevia [ = gray phase], Gmel., S. N. I, i, 1788, 289 (based on Mottled Owl, Arct. 

 Zool. II, 1785, 231, no. 118, t. xi). 



Bubo striatus [ = gray j)hase], Yieill., Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1607, 54, pi. 21. 



f " Ephialites ocreata, Licht., in Mus. Berol." 



(3. maccalli. 



Scops McCallii, Cass., Illustr. B. Cal. Tex. &c. July, 1854, 180; in Baird's Birds N. Am. 



1858, 52. 



Scops asio, var. enano, "Lawr., MS.", Ridgw., Bull. Essex Inst. V, Dec. 1873,200. 



y. kennicotti. 



Scops kennicottii, Elliot, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1867,69; Illustr. Birds Am. 1869, p. 

 xxvii, pi. ii. 



6. floridanu8. 



Scops asio, var. Jloridanus, Ridgw., Bull. Essex Inst. V, Dec. 1873,200. 



f. majcwclliaj. 



Scops asio, e. maru- cilia; Ridgw., Field and Forest, June, 1877, 210, 213. 



The chief differential characters of the several geographical races of 

 this widely distributed owl may be expressed as follows: — 



Colors smoky-brown or dusky umber, and pale fulvous, with little or none of pure 

 white. Outer webs of scapulars pale fulvous. Never bright rufous. 



1. Wing, 0.85-7.60; tail, 3.50-4.50. Apparently not varying to rufous Hal)., The 



Northwest coast, from Oregon to Sitka; Idaho y. kennicotti. 



Colors much lighter, some shade of ashy-gray or grayish -brown above, pure white 

 beneath. Outer webs of scapulars pure white. Sometimes bright rufous, with 

 white and black markings. 



2. Wing, 6.10-7.80 ; tail, 3.30-4.35. Varying, in the Eastern, hut not in the Western, 



Province, to bright rufous. In the rufous phase, white prevailing on the lower 

 surface, where the red markings are not broken into transverse bars. Hah., 

 Whole of the United States, except the high western mountains, and the Gulf 

 coast a, 



3. Wing, 5.50-6.00 ; tail, 2.75-3.10. Varying to bright rufous ; in the rufous phase, 



red prevailing on the lower parts, where the markings are much broken into 

 transverse bars. Bab., Florida and S. Georgia 6. Jloridanus. 



