( 591 ) 



is still iltii'ker, ami the liack ;i]i|ian'iitly also darker, Imt being somewhat liiii y, in 

 worn I'lumage, ami of older date, it is (jiiite possible that the dift'erences are only duo 

 to its condition. 



The yonng of .,1. rufoiichixtaceu.^, and evidently also those of .1. puk-kellus, are 

 above brown, with rusty edges to the feathers, tail brownish grey with blackish bars, 

 underside whitish, patched with brown, marked lengthways on the throat and breast, 

 more or less crossways on the abdomen, thighs more or less rufous. (An evidently 

 young bird from Ysabel [No. 3248, Meek coll.], marked '■'■ female !' wing 213 mm., is 

 above much more rufous, washed with cinnamon, the underside whitish cream, barred 

 across throughout with rufous-brown I Its bill is longer than that of males of 

 .1. rufoschistucem. It seems to belong to another species, but we could not say 

 which.) 



411. Baza gurneyi Rams. 



Ii(i:ii ijiiniciji IJams., .loiiru. Lhni. Snr. Zoul. .\vi. (l.ssl) p. 13ii (Solomon 

 Islands). 



One fine specimen from Ysabel. " Iris yellow." 



41. Pseudoptynx solomouensis Hart. 



Paeiiilojilipi.r solomoiienain Hartert, Bull. />. < I. ('. \i\. November I'-Hil. ji. -Jo 

 (Ysabel, Solomon Islands). 



Uufous, above with wide blackish longitudinal and transverse markings, 

 underside with longitudinal shaft-strijies, wider on chest and breast, narrower on 

 the abdomen. Feathers on the sides of breast and on the abdomen and flanks, 

 with wide darker rufous, but not very distinct, cross-bars. Rectrices rufous, the 

 lateral ones regularly, the central ones irregularly, barred across with deep brown, 

 inner webs the same as the outer ones. Stiff feathers on chin white, the outer ones 

 rufous with blackish shaft-stripes, occujiying the greater part of the feathers. Stiff 

 feathers in front of eyes whitish, a blackish ring round the eye. Facial disc 

 surrounded by a blackish semi-ring. Primaries dark brown with large rnfous 

 j)atches on both webs, which increase on the secondaries, so that the latter may be 

 described as rufous with deep brown irregular cross-bars and wide median lines of 

 the same colour. Under wing-coverts rnfous, spotted with deep brown. Thighs 

 and feathering of metatarsus uniform rufous, the latter feathered right down to the 

 toes. Toes " yellowish white," quite bare, claws brown. " Iris brownish yellow, 

 bill umber, slate-colour at base." Wing 300, tail ITn, metatarsus OU, middle toe 

 without claw 45, bill 45 mm. 



" ? " ad., Ysabel Island, 9. vii. V.Wi. A. S. Meek coll. 



Only this one specimen of this remarkable owl has been obtained. Mr. Meek 

 writes that it took his party weeks to get it, though it was heard very often. 



This form is (piite une.xpected on the Solomons, its nearest ally being 

 J'.seui/opti/i/x (juniei/t (and J'sei/r/o/tfi/z/j-' ///til/jipi/iensig) from the l'hllipi)iue Islands. 

 The most striking difference from the rhilipi)ine species is in the black markings of 

 the back and wing-coverts, which in the two Philippine forms have only wide central 

 black stripes, while those markings in /'. solomo/ir//s/s are nanower and have a 

 number of cross-bars, more or less irregular in sha]ic. The bnffy longitudinal 

 stripes caused by the buff outer edgings to the scajailars and outer series of 



