512 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. —RAPTOBES— STRIGES. 
the side of the neck, separated by a whitish interval ; the edges of the eyelids, many of the 
loral bristles, a line just in front of the eye, and a chin-spot, are black or dusky ; the lower 
part of the disc below the ears has also dusky streaks. The exposed part of the bill is bright 
yellow, as said, but most of that hidden by the bristles is of a dark livid color. However vari- 
able in detail, the markings of this species are unmistakable ; those about the head are better 
defined than in most owls, and quite peculiar. Length 15.00; extent 33.00; wing about 
9.00 ; tail about 7.00 ; tarsus, or middle toe without claw, 1.00 or less ; culmen without cere 
0.75. A handsome and spirited owl, abundant in northern portions of N. Am., S. into 
northern U. S. in winter, frequently and regularly ; apparently resident in Maine. Like the 
snowy owl, it endures the rigors of Arctic winters. Nest usually in trees, sometimes on rocks 
or stumps, of sticks, mosses, grasses, and feathers; eggs 4-7, April, May, about 1.55 X 1-25, 
whitish. The food of this species seems to be chiefly field-mice and other small rodents, 
hawked for in broad daylight, this owl being apparently the least nocturnal of its tribe. 
481. S. f . u'lula. (Lat. ulula, a screech owl.) European Hawk Oavl. Lighter- colored speci- 
mens from Alaska have been considered to represent this variety, just as darker-colored ones, 
from the British Islands, have been referred to the preceding variety. 
167. NYC'TALA. (Gr. vvktoKos, nuktalos, sleepy.) Saw- whet Owls. Skull and ear-parts 
highly unsymmetrical, the latter of great size, and fully operculate. Head very large (as in 
Strix), without plumicorns ; facial disc complete, with centric eye. Nostril at edge of the cere, 
wliich is inflated or not. Tail from i to f as long as the wing, rounded. Third and 4th primaries 
longest ; 1st quite short ; 2 or 3 emarginate on inner webs. Feet thickly and closely feathered 
to the claws. In this interesting genus the ear-parts are of great size, and reach the extreme 
of asymmetry, the whole skull seeming misshapen. Three species are known, all of small 
size ; one of circumpolar distribution, one peculiar to N. Am., the third of unknown habitat, 
probably American. They are notable for the unusual degree of difi'erence between old and 
young ; and our species are readily distinguished by stronger characters than are ordinarily found 
between congeneric owls. The adults are umber or chocolate -brown above, spotted with white, 
below white, striped with brown ; the young more uniform. Eyes yellow ; bill black or 
yellow. 
Analysis of Species. 
Larger: wing about 7.00; tail 4.50. Bill yellow; cere not tumid; nostrils presenting laterally, and 
obliquely oval. Arctic richardsoni 482 
Smaller: wing 5.50; tail 2.67. Bill black ; cere tumid; nostrils presenting anteriorly, and about circular. 
U. S acadica 483 
482. N. teng^malmi rich'ardsoni. (To P. G. Tengmalm, and J. Richardson.) Arctic American 
Saw-whet Owl. Adult : Upper parts, including wings and tail, uniform chocolate-brown, 
spotted with white ; on the top of the head the sj)ots small and profuse, on the nape larger and 
blended into a nuchal collar, on the back and wing-coverts large and sparse, but tending to 
form a scapular bar, on the wing-quills and tail-feathers in pairs, at the opposite edges of the 
webs, on the inner webs larger, more like bars, and more or less run together, especially on 
the inner secondaries. Under parts white, thickly and confusedly streaked lengthwise with the 
color of the back. Facial disc mostly white, but with blackish eyelids and loral spot, set in a 
frame of dark brown speckled with white. The general tone of the brown of this species is 
oftenest ruddy, nearly as in N. acadica, but sometimes dark and pure. Young not seen by me ; 
said to diff'er from the adult much as N. acadica does. Length 11.00-12.00; extent 24.00; 
wing 7.00; tail 4.50; tarsus 1.00; middle toe without claw 0.67 ; culmen without cere 0.60. 
Said to be distinguished from the European conspecies (fig. 359) by its darker coloration, ochrey 
feet spotted with brovATi instead of being nearly immaculate white, and more heavily streaked 
under tail-coverts. This fine species inhabits the Arctic regions, being seldom seen in the 
U. S., where only known in winter and not further south than New England, Wisconsin, 
Northern Ohio, and Oregon ; though it is probably resident in Northern Maine, like the snowy 
