2. Otus mexicanus. (Gm.) Strix mexicana. Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I., p. 288. (1766.) Bubo clamator. Vieill., Ois d’Am., Sept. I., p. 52, pl. 20. (1807.) Strix longirostris. Spix Av. Bras. 1., p. 20, pl. 9 a. (1824.)
This Owl, which is a rather common South American species, is stated by Vieillot to inhabit America from Cayenne to Hudson’s Bay. His remarks apply, however, to the Scops asio in mottled plumage; though a good plate is given by him of the bird, of which the name is above cited, no specimen of which has ever come under our notice, captured in any part of the United States.
3. Strix Georgica. Lath., Gen. Syn. Supp., p. 15. (1801.)
“Size of the Barn Owl; length sixteen inches and a half; bill yellow; the plumage on the upper parts of the bird is brown, banded with yellowish; throat and breast pale brown, crossed with whitish bands; belly yellowish white, marked with longish red brown streaks; thighs and legs woolly, whitish or very pale in color, varied with small blackish spots; quills and tail feathers brown, crossed with four or five white bands.
“I met with this specimen in the collection of Mr. Humphries, said to have come from several miles within South Georgia, in America.” (Latham, General Synopsis of Birds, Supplement II., p. 64.)
This bird is placed by Latham, in his division of Owls, “with smooth heads,” and probably refers to the Short-eared Owl (Otus brachyotus). The description is not, however, entirely applicable. This name may, however, be entitled to precedence as the proper name of that species in the genus Brachyotus; and, as an aspirant to such honors, we recommend it to the favorable notice of enterprising ornithologists; and also, while our hand is in, respectfully suggest that as a name for the allied European species, arctica, Sparrmann, which dates 1789 (Mus. Carls., pl. 51), might do as well as palustris, and have the advantage of more mature age.
4. Strix forficata. Aud., Orn. Biog. V., p. 334. (1839.)
“I shot this bird in the vicinity of Green Bay, when on my way across to the Mississippi; but the drawing which I made of it on the spot has been lost. It was about the size of Strix acadica, of a dark grey color, with the tail long and deeply forked; but I am unable to describe it more particularly, the Journal in which it was noticed having been, along with others, destroyed by the great fire which happened in New York some years ago.” (Audubon, as above.)
The bird here alluded to has never again been observed so far as we have learned. The description probably applies to an unknown species, and certainly to one not known as an inhabitant of the United States.
5. “Strix passerina. Gmel.” Aud., Orn. Biog. V., p. 269. (1839.)
Aud., B. of Am., pl. 432, fig. 3; Oct. ed. I., pl. 29.
“Bill greyish, its ridge and tip greyish yellow; iris dark; claws brownish black, lighter at the base; the general color of the upper parts is chocolate brown; the feathers of the head have an oblong white median mark, and, as they are small, this part is marked with numerous spots; on the hind neck the white spots are very large, forming a conspicuous patch; on the back most of the feathers have a single large subterminal roundish spot, which is also the case with the scapulars and wing coverts, some of which, however, have two or more spots; all the quills have marginal reddish-white spots on both webs, the third quill with six on the outer and four on the inner, with two very faint pale bars toward the end; the tail is similarly marked with four bands of transversely-oblong reddish-white spots; on the anterior part of the disc, the feathers are whitish, with black shafts, on the lower part whitish, on the hind part brown, tipped with greyish-white; a broad band of white crosses the throat and curves upward on either side to the ear; there is also a patch of white on the lower part of the fore-neck, and between them is a brownish-grey band; the general colour of the lower parts is dull yellowish-white, each feather with a broad longitudinal band of chocolate-brown; the abdomen and lower tail coverts unspotted; the tarsal feathers dull white.”
Dimensions. Length, to end of tail, 10½ inches; to end of wings, 10; wing, from flexure, 6¼; tail, 3½; tarsus, 1¼ inches. (Aud., as above.)