Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/445

Rh Scales of the feet and claws brownish-yellow. The general colour above is greyish-brown, with light yellowish-red interspersed, produced by very minute niotthng, each feather having towards the end a central streak of deep brown terminated by a small oblong greyish-white spot. The wings are similarly coloured; the secondary coverts and outer edges of the primary coverts with a large proportion of light brownish-red ; the quills and tail transversely barred with brown. The face is white, tinged with red, es- pecially near the inner angle of the eye ; the rulF of compact feathers light brownish-red. The under parts are pale brownish-red, fading ante- riorly into white, each feather having a small dark-brown spot at the tip.

Length 17 inches, extent of wings 3 feet 6 inches; bill along the back 1-^% ; tarsus 2j^, middle toe and claw 2^^.

Adult Female. Plate CLXXI. Fig. 2.

The female resembles the male, but is considerably larger.

Length 18 inches, extent of wings 3 feet 8 inches.

This bird is so closely allied to the Barn Owl of Europe, that it is very difficult to characterize the two by any comparative marks. The principal differences are to be found in the size and colouring. The American bird is much larger than the European, as will be seen by the following measurements taken from an adult male.

Length 14 inches, extent of wings 3 feet ; bill along the back 1j% ; tarsus 2|, middle toe and claw 2^^.

The colouring of the American is much darker than that of the Euro- pean bird, and in the former the ruff is red, whereas it is usually white in the latter ; but as both birds present variations of colour, no stress can be laid on this circumstance. The difference that strikes one most on com- paring the two, is the greater size of the American bird, and more espe- cially of its tarsus and toes.

On the whole, although I suspect they will ultimately be found to be different species, I am unable to point out any satisfactory distinctions.