CICCABA.—SPEOTYTO. 31 
Tehuantepec; but it is very probable that they do not occur together, but that 
C. virgata belongs to the eastern or Atlantic side, and C. sguamulata to the western 
or Pacific side of the Isthmus. 
SPEOTYTO. 
Speotyto, Gloger, Handb. Naturg. p. 226 (1842); Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. ii. p. 142. 
Pholeoptynx (subgenus), Kaup, Isis, 1848, p. 769. 
This genus is strictly confined to America, being distributed over the western and 
southern parts of the northern continent, Mexico, and Central America, except, 
perhaps, the southern portion, a large part of South America, including Argentina and 
Chili, and several of the West Indian islands. Its habit of living in deserted burrows 
of rodents and armadillos is peculiar amongst American Owls. Living chiefly on the 
ground the tarsi are longer in proportion than in any other genera; they are feathered 
in front, bare behind. ‘The size is small, the head without ear-tufts; the cere is tumid, 
the nostril in the middle of the swollen part. The plumage is of very uniform pattern, 
but there is some variation in tint and a considerable amount in size in different 
individuals. The first primary is long. 
1. Speotyto cunicularia. 
Strix cunicularia, Molina, Stor. Chili, p. 343+; Bp. Am. Orn. i. p. 68, t. 7. f. 2”. 
Athene cunicwiaria, Bp., Grayson, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 270°. 
Speotyto cunicularia, Sumichrast, La Nat. v. p. 237°; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. ii. p. 142°. 
Athene hypogea, Woodh. in Sitgr, Exp. Zui & Col, Rivers, p. 62°; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 201°; 
Salv. Ibis, 1865, p. 193°. . 
Pholeoptynx hypogea, Scl. P. Z. 8.1859, p. 368°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 401%; Dugés, La Nat. 
i. p. 188". 
Speotyto cunicularia, var. hypogea, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 297°; Bull. U.S. Nat. 
Mus. no. 4, p. 87"; Ridgw. in Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. Birds, iii. p. 90". 
Speotyto cunicularia hypogea, Bendire, Life Hist. N. Am. Birds,i. p. 395, t. 12. f. 14"; Jouy, Pr. 
U.S. Nat. Mus. xvi. p. 787°; Fisher, Bull. U. S. Dep. Agr. no. 3, p. 189, t. 25*7; Allen, 
Bull. Am. Mus. N. H. v. p. 34”. 
Supra brunnea, undique albido maculata, auricularibus fuscis ; gula alba, fascia nigra notata; pectoris lateribus 
fuscis albo maculatis, hypochondriis fuscis transfasciatis, corpore reliquo subtus pallide cervino-albido ; 
alis fuscis, primariis in pogonio externo cervino-albido maculatis; cauda fasciis quinque albidis nigricante 
marginatis notata; tarsis antice plumosis, ad digitos setosis. Long. tota circa 9°0, ale 6°5, caude 2:9. 
(Descr. exempl. ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Nort America, Western States, Texas 4—Mexico, San Pedro Sonora (Robi- 
nette 18), Nuevo Laredo in Nuevo Leon (/. B. Armstrong), Carnetas in Chihuahua 
(W. Lloyd), Zacatecas (W. B. Richardson), Hacienda Angostura in San Luis 
Potosi (Jouy !°), Tres Marias Is.? 1", Mazatlan 1? (Grayson), Presidio de Mazatlan 
(Forrer), Ixtlan, Venta del Astillero (Dr. A. C. Buller, in mus. Rothschild), 
Guanajuato, Guadalajara (Dugés "), Santana near Zapotlan (W. Lloyd), Plains of 
Colima (W. B. Richardson), Jalapa (Sallé", de Oca®, Ferrari-Perez), Cotre de Perote, 
