48 
U. S P. R. R EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 
Entire upper parts pale fawn color, or tawny brownish yellow, frequently very pale, nearly every feather with a small sub- 
terminal black spot succeeded by another of white. Under parts generally pale fawn color, but frequently pure white, with 
small lanceolato and circular spots of brownish black ; under coverts of wings and tail white ; quills fawn colored ; primaries 
with about five irregular transverse bars of brownish black ; tail with about four or five bands of dark brown. Face white ; 
spots of dark chestnut brown around the eyes. Irides brownish black ; bill, toes, and claws light yellowish. 
Total length, female, 16 inches, wing 13, tail 5| inches. Male rather smaller. 
Hah. — Throughout temperate North America. Spec, in Nat. Mus., Washington. 
All the specimens in the present collection are from California. They exhibit the variety in 
shades of color, especially on the under parts of the body, which is usually to be observed in 
this species ; some specimens having these parts perfectly white, and others different shades of 
pale buff or fawn color. There is, however, no American species of this family more easily 
recognized. 
Some specimens from the western countries of North America which have come under our 
notice have the greater portion of the quills very pale colored, occasionally nearly white ; and 
these specimens have, too, usually the under parts white. This is the case with specimens No. 
4349 in Lieutenant Trowbridge's collection, and No. 6885 in that of Lieutenant Williamson. 
This bird, in the plumage just referred to, approximates quite closely to Strix furcata, (Tem- 
minck PI. Col, 432,) a species from the West India islands, and cannot readily be distinguished 
from it by any character, except a greater degree of whiteness in the West India bird. The 
two species, if such they are, will, however, bear careful comparison. 
List of specimens. 
d 
Measurements. 
6 
a? 
Locality. 
When collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Collected by — 
"a 
be 
3 
6 
Sex 
o 
Len 
<A 
Win 
4349 
4194 
4133 
6884 
4626 
4910 
6885 
5036 
8701 
9132 
8003 
Lieut. Trowbridge . 
San Francisco, Cal. 
Monterey, Mexico . 
Tejon valley, Cal 
Winter 1853- 54. 
R. D. Cutts 
8 
8 
170 
17.00 
35.00 
Lt. R.S.Williamson. 
do 
Dr. J. F. Hammond. 
16.75 
44.25 
12.75 
Lt. R.S.Williamson 
Dr. Heermann 
Doila Ana, N. M 
Texas 
Nov. 9,1855 
3 
Maj. W. H. Emory. 
do 
A. Schott 
J. H. Clark 
15.50 
45.00 
14.00 
Sept., 1856 
Sub-Family BUBONINAE. — T he HornedOwls. 
Head large, with erectile and prominent ear tufts. Eyes large ; facial disc not complete 
above the eyes and bill ; legs, feet, and claws usually very strong. 
This division contains numerous species, some of which are very large, but the greater 
number as medium sized or small. They inhabit all parts of the world, except Australia. 
