1849.] 



157 



The Committee on Mr. Cassin's Descriptions of new species of 

 Nyctale and ^ycobius, reported in favor of publication. 



Descriptions of New Species of the genera Nyctale,Brehm.,and Sycohius, Vieill ; 

 specimens of which are in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of 

 Philadelphia. 



By John Cassin. 



Genus Nyctale, Brehm. Handb. Nat. Vog. Deuts. p. 111. 



Nyctale Harrisii, nobis. 



Front, face, nuchal collar, and under surface of the body yellowish white, or 

 buff colour. 



Spot between the eye and the bill, and a broad occipital band, black, — the latter 

 covering the greater part of the hind head. 



Feathers covering the ear, black. 



Throat with a few black feathers, and many of the feathers of the ruff on the 

 front neck conspicuously tipped with black. 



Upper surface of the back and wings deep reddish-brown ; wing coverts with 

 conspicuous round spots of white ; all the quill feathers also irregularly marked 

 and spotted with white on the edges of both webs ; scapulars largely edged with 

 white and buff. 



Upper tail coverts brown, spotted with white. Tail black, with about three 

 pairs of rounded white spots on every feather. Tarsi thickly feathered to the 

 toes, and with the whole under surface of the body buff colour. 



Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 7i in.; wing, 52 ; 

 tail, 2f inches. 



Hab. South America ? 



The specimen now described was obtained from Mr. J. G. Bell, Taxidermist, 

 of New York, who has no accurate recollection of its locality, but is of the opinion 

 that it came from South America. 



I have named this singular and beautiful little species in honor of Mr. Edward 

 Harris, of Moorestown, N. J., Chairman of the Ornithological Committee of this 

 Academy, and a distinguished naturalist. 



Genus Sycobius, Vieillot. 

 Syeohius scutatus, nobis. 



% Upper part of the head and neck, broad pectoral band and under tail coverts 

 bright crimson ; the crimson of the breast uniting on the sides of the neck with 

 that of the head. 



Throat and ears black, — which colour forms a large gular patch extending to, 

 but scarcely including the eyes. 



All other parts of the body black. 



9 Broad pectoral band and under tail coverts crimson ; all other parts, includ- 

 ing the head, black. 



Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 55 inches; wing, 3f; 

 tail, 2i inches. 



Hab. Western Africa. 



