34 
IX 
Autumn Males 
Sandy Group 
74. U.S.N.M. 
75. P.A.S. 
76. N.M.C. 
77. 
78. “ 
20347 Sukkertoppen, Greenland 
26965 Disko, Greenland Aug. 7, 1891 
9876 Kay pt., Yukon Aug. 19,1914 
10132 Cape Kellett, Banks is Sept. 5, 1914 
4501 International Boundary, Arctic 
Circle Summer, 1911 (head) 
Autumn males in most perfect condition show much finer vermicu- 
lation, with considerable minute powderings of colour superimposed. 
Some birds have a little fine barring hung like a necklace across the throat 
and upper breast, and here again seems a tendency towards fine, regular 
barring shown by No. 68 and slightly by 65 and 69. These specimens 
are, however, well advanced in the white winter plumage, which may have 
something to do with this particular appearance. It may be a character 
of age or an individual variation. 
Groups VII and VIII are fairly distinct, but IX is strikingly so. The 
'‘Yellow group,” VII, has a distinct general yellowish rust appearance, 
whereas VIII is clearly grey with considerable white frosty veiling on the 
back of the most perfect specimens. 
Group IX is a very pale sandy colour. No. 76 is finely barred, as 
described above for 68, etc. They are absolutely unlike any other birds 
in the collection. No. 78 is a fragment, consisting of head, wing, and foot, 
but the head is unmistakably identical with 75. I take 74 to be reinhardi, 
by both character and geography. No. 75 from Disko is not surprising, 
but that identical birds should be found as far west as the Yukon-Alaska 
boundary is a disturbing puzzle and one that I cannot attempt to solve. 
It is possible that these western birds represent a distinct subspecies 
superficially resembling reinhardi as Bubo v. lieterocnemis of the Labrador 
does B. v. saturatus of the Pacific coast. In this connexion see No. 18, 
group I, which might possibly be regarded as belonging to this unnamed 
form. The material on hand though is suggestive only and the data too 
slight to do more than raise this question without answering it. 
The three Newfoundland birds are found inseparable from the others 
of the grey group. Nos. 63, 66, 67, and 70 are in a strictly comparable state 
of plumage and I see no material difference between them and these sup- 
posed welchi. In fact Nos. 71 and 70 are as nearly exact duplicates of each 
other as it is possible to find in this variable species. Nos. 64 and 65 were 
taken on ship board in middle of Hudson strait during migration. 
