606 
SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — BAPTOBJES — STBIGES. 
to 6.50 ; tail about 4.00. In the gray phase, very similar to asio proper, the upper parts "being 
in fact indistinguishable, but the markings of the under parts finer, more regular and continuous 
over the whole surface ; in the ' red ' phase dusky umber-brown, quite unlike the bright rust- 
color of asio. This state was long supposed to be the only (jne, and characteristic of the bird ; 
it occurs chiefly coastwise and far north, wdiile the gray phase, only distinguishable from that 
of asio as above said, seems to be the rule in the U. S. In size, some New England specimens 
are fully up to the average of kennicotti. West and Northwest N. Am., from Idaho to Sitka. 
466a. S. a. bend'irii. (To Capt. Chas. Bendire.) California Screech Owl. No red phase 
known to occur. Size of asio, and extremely like it, differing chiefly in the finer, more 
numerous and continuous cross-bars of the under parts, which cross the middle of the belly as 
elsewhere ; the shaft-stripes also appear less blotchy. It is thus quite hke the gray phase of 
kennicotti, but smaller. The plumicorns are said to be shorter. Coast region of California, 
common. I have gone carefully over a series of Scops, and appreciate the points lately made 
by Mr. Brewster and Mr. Ridgway. If these fine shades are to be recognized by name, the 
present seems entitled to be named with the rest. 
467. S. a. maxwellae. (To Mrs. M. A. Maxwell, of Boulder, Colorado, a noted huntress and 
taxidermist.) Colorado Screech Owl. Size of asio; no red phase observed ; but, on the 
contrary, the whole plumage very pale, almost as if bleached, the difterence evident in nestlings 
even. Upper parts pale gray, with reduced black lines; lower whiter with reduced dark shaft - 
lines and cross-bars, the scapular bar very conspicuous ; much white on wing-coverts ; white 
spots on outer webs of several primaries running into continuous areas only indented with small 
dark spaces. Mountains of Colorado, and doubtless adjoining ones ; an alpine form. 
468. S. a. maccalli. (To Col. Geo. A. McCall.) Texas Screech Owl. A small southern 
form ; size of fioridanus; gray and red phases, as in asio proper. Very similar to asio; in 
the gray phase, the markings of the under parts finer, firmer, more regular and continuous, the 
shaft-lines strict, not blotchy, the cross-lines sharp ; the stripes of the upper parts coarse, but 
regular, and the nape with a tendency to present a light nuchal collar. Texas and southward, 
to Guatemala. {S. maccalU Cass., 1854, 1858; Coues, 1872; S. asio var. enano Lawr., 
RiDGW., Hist. N. A. B., iii, 1874, p. 48, but not maccalli, ibid., p. 52.) 
469. s. a. florida'nus. (Of Florida.) Florida Screech Owl. A small southern form ; wing 
5.50-6.00 ; tail about 3.00. Coloration as in asio; red phase frequent if not the usual one; in 
its full development, the rusty makes quite firm broad cross-bars on the under parts, which is 
not the rule in asio, though very evident in specimens from Southern Illinois, for example, 
where the red is by far the most frequent plumage. Florida, and adjoining regions. 
4T0. s. tricliop'sis ? (Gr. 6pL^, rpixos, thrix, trichos, hair, oyjris, opsis, aspect.) An alleged 
species, or a subspecies of asio, with which I am unacquainted. Described as having the bars 
of the lower surface fine, nearer together than in asio, and much more uniformly distributed ; 
the general aspect being paler than in asio, with much finer vermiculations (Ridgway). Cali- 
fornia, New Mexico, and southward. (S. a. maccalli, Ridgw.. Hist. N. A. B., iii, 1874, p. 52 ; 
-S'. trichopsis, Ridgw., Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1878, p. 114; but whether of Wagler, 1832 f) 
471. S. fiamme'ola. (Lat. flammeola, here signifying a little reddish thing.) Flammulated 
Screech Owl. A small species, with much the general aspect of an ungrown S. asio; but 
the close feathering of the tarsus stops abruptly at the bases of the toes, which are naked, and 
the plumicorns are quite short. Length 6.50-7-00 ; wing 5.25-5.50 ; tail 2.75 ; tarsus 0.90; 
culmen, without cere, 0.35 ; middle toe, without claw, 0.55. Adult $ 9' Facial disc, some- 
times whole head, rusty-rufous, or light chestnut, speckled with black, on the top of the head 
also with white, tending to form a superciliary stripe. Ground of under parts white, but heavily 
overlaid with shaft-stripes or blotches of black giving off irregular cross-waves, on the breast 
tinged with rusty-rufous here and there ; tarsi white, speckled with dusky. Upper parts 
minutely dappled with dark brown and hoary-gray, and with ragged dark shaft-stripes ; a con- 
