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Show 58 MESSRS. SCLATER AND SALVIN ON N E W BIRDS. [Jan. 23, Mr. Salvin has lately received from Costa Rica a skin of a Scops which seems to be referable to this species. It is immediately distinguishable by its naked tarsus (see fig. 3). We are not yet convinced of the validity of the following species:- (1) Scops atricapillus (Temm.) Probably only a variety of S. brasilianus. (2) Scops ustus, Sclater. Probably an hepatic variety of the same species. (3) Scops watsoni, Cassin, (4) Sco2)s lophotes, Less., and (5) Scops portoricensis, Less. Specimens of these species have not yet come under our observation. 4. SYRNIUM FULVESCENS, sp. nov. Syrnium nebulosum, Scl. et Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 221. Supra chocolatino-brunneum, fulvo transfasciatum et maculatum : disci facialis plumis albis, fulvo et nigro variegatis: alarum tectricibus minoribus in pogonio externo maculis rotundis albis distincte notatis : alis caudaque brunneis, fulvo transfasciatis: subtus fulvum, in pectore albicans, brunneo frequenter transfasciatum, ventre pallide fulvescenti-albido fulvo strigato, crisso immaculato : tectricibus subalaribus pallide fulvis : tarsis cum digitorum phal angibus primis dense vestitis, plumis fulvis nigricante punctulatis : rostro clare flavo: digitis nudis carneis; unguibus nigris: long, tota 16, alee 12*5, caudce 7*3, tarsi2'2. Hab. Guatemala. Obs. Sim. S. nebuloso, sed crassitie minore, colore magis fulvo, et digitis nisi in summis phalangibus nudis dignoscendum. The collection of Messrs. Salvin and Godman contains three specimens of this Owl from various parts of Guatemala; and we have met with other examples from the same country. W e have hitherto confounded it with Syrnium nebulosum, but have recently convinced ourselves upon reexamination of its being quite distinct. In its more denuded toes it rather resembles the southern S. hylophilum. The fourth and fifth quills of the wing are nearly equal and longest. The ear-opercle is very well developed, as in S. nebulosum. Mr. Gurney's collection contains a skin of this Owl, said to be from Mexico ; so that the Mexican bird, hitherto referred to S. nebulosum*, may possibly belong to this species. W e are acquainted with the following species of American Owls strictly referable to the genus Syrnium, which contains, according to our views, a series of large species without ear-horns, having the lower portion of the toes bare, the facial disk for the most part entire, and the operculum of the ear greatly developed. Species of Wagler's genus Ciccaba have been very much mixed up with those of this group. The presence or absence of the ear-opercle, however, is suf- * Sclater, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 298. |