No. 4,530 (Washington Territory; Dr. Geo. Suckley) is just intermediate in all respects between typical _kennicotti_ and _asio_, being referrible to either with equal propriety, though perhaps inclining most to the former. This well-marked form is, according to recognized laws, properly to be regarded as only an extremely dark northwestern form of _Scops asio_. There is no deviation from the specific pattern of coloration, the difference being merely in the tints; while in this it corresponds in every way with other species as modified in the northwest coast region; the somewhat greater size, too, merely results from its more northern habitat. The only characters which we find in _kennicotti_ which cannot be recognized in _asio_ are the smaller, more quadrate, and more rufous spots on the primaries, and more obsolete bands on the tail; but this is merely the consequence of the greater extension of the brown markings, thus necessarily contrasting the lighter spots. In these respects only does the Washington Territory specimen differ from the two typical examples before us, having the larger, more whitish, spots on primaries, and more distinct tail-bands, of _asio_. [Illustration: _Scops asio_, var. _kennicotti_.] The _Scops kennicotti_ must, however, be recognized as a well-marked geographical race, and, not taking into consideration any natural laws which influence changes in species, it would be very proper to recognize the validity of the present bird. If, however, the rule of which we speak will apply to others, as indeed it does to a majority of the birds of the region inhabited by the _Scops kennicotti_, the extreme conditions of some species of which are even more widely different than in the present instance, and which have been referred to their lighter representatives in consequence of the applicability of this law, we cannot possibly do otherwise with it. In general appearance, size, and proportions, as well as in pattern and tints of coloration, except in their details, there is a wonderfully close resemblance in this race of _S. asio_ to the _S. semitorques_, Schlegel, of Japan. Indeed, it is probable that the latter is also a mere geographical form of the same species. The only tangible points of difference are that in _semitorques_ the jugulum is distinctly white centrally, there is a quite well-defined lighter nuchal band, with a more indistinct occipital one above it, and the pencillings on the lower parts are more delicate. The size and proportions are essentially the same; the shades of color are identical, while the markings differ only in minute detail, their pattern being essentially the same. In _kennicotti_ the light nuchal collars are indicated, though they do not approach the distinctness shown by them in _semitorques_. Should they be considered as races of one species (_S. asio_), their differential characters may be expressed as follows:—