186 [October, 



square spots of reddish white on their outer webs, and the latter with numerous 

 irregular lines, and narrow bands of reddish and brown. 



Hah. Northern Asia, Japan ? " En Mer, cotes du Japon, lat. 29 AV N. long. 

 126 13' 30" E." 



Obs. This is one of the handsomest of the small species of owls, and bears some 

 resemblance, rather remote, however, and on a small scale, to the large Horned 

 Owls. It is somewhat like E. semitorques, (Temm.) but wants the white on the 

 throat and breast, and is smaller and differently colored, and has the toes bare. 

 It resembles also to some extent both L. lettia, (Hodg.) and E. lempiji, (Horsf.,) 

 but is larger than either, and otherwise different. The brown stripes and lines 

 on all parts of the plumage are unusually delicate. 



Two specimens are in the collection of the Academy, the more adult of which 

 was obtained by Dr. Wilson from Mr. J. P. Verreaux, of Paris, by whom it was 

 designated as probably an undescribed species. It bears a label indicating the 

 locality as above. 



6. Ephialtes Hendersonii, nobis. 



Form. Resembling E. capensis (Smith) and E. senegaUnsis (Sw.) but smaller 

 than either, and has the bill shorter and weaker ; wing with the third quill 

 longest, but only slightly exceeding the fourth : tail short. 



Dimensions. Total length of skin from tip of bill to end of tail 6^ inches, 

 wing 5, tail 2\ inches. 



Colors. Generally very similar to those of E. capensis (Smith) and E. sene- 

 galensis (Sw.), but darker and with the fine lines and points of brown through- 

 out the plumage much more numerous and distinct. Entire plumage above 

 cinereous, mixed on the neck, back and rump with bright fulvous, every feather 

 longitudinally striped and with numerous very irregular transverse lines and 

 points of brownish black most distinct on the head and back. Frontal feathers 

 nearly white, tufts and face very pale cinereous, striped longitudinally, and 

 minutely lined with dark brown. Plumage below variegated with white and 

 brown, with a tinge of fulvous, every feather having stripes and minute lines 

 and points, as on the back, but less numerous, with the white predominating 

 and nearly pure on the lower abdomen and under tail coverts. 



Quills brown with quadrangular spots of white on the outer webs. Tail pale 

 cinereous with irregular transverse bars of brown and exhibiting a different 

 style of coloring from either of the species above mentioned. Tarsi nearly 

 white, obscurely spotted with brown. 

 Sexes similar. 



Ilab. Angola. " Came on board U. S. brig Perry off Novo Redondo." Dr. 

 Henderson's label. 



Obs. It is not without some feeling of reluctance that I add another to the 

 several nearly allied and little understood species resembling E. scops, (Linn.) 

 Of these there are several which are clearly distinct and well marked, and the 

 bird at present described is one of this character. My reluctance has arisen 

 from the knowledge, that from the descriptions heretofore published, it is quite 

 impossible for naturalists to identify them, or to ascertain in what manner one 

 differs from another ; and nothing short of actually examining the original spe- 

 cimens in European collections, which was done by Dr. Wilson in 1851, can 

 afford the necessary information. From his notes and from specimens which he 

 procured during his visit to Europe, and from others previously in the collection 

 of the Academy, I have the gratification of entirely coinciding with him in the 

 opinion that the following are distinct, but some of them nearly related species ; 

 Ephialtes scops, (Linn.) from which E. pennaia, (Hodg.) cannot be distinguished; 

 E. capensis, (Smith,) E. sencgalensis, (Sw.,) E. sunia, (Hodg.,) of which I am 

 acquainted with both young and adult, and E. Ilenclersonii, Cassin: and of ano- 

 ther group also resembling E. scops to some extent, the following appear to be 

 different ; E. lempiji (Horsf.) which is J. noctula, Temm., E. javanicm (Less.) 

 E. lettia (Hodg.,) E. spilocephahis (Blyth,) and E. mantis (Temm.,) which is 

 S. rufescens, (Horsf.) Of all these species, specimens and mostly suites are 

 now in the collection of this Academy, and I hope to give, at an early day, the 



