150 BULLETIN 17 2, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



OTUS SAGITTATUS (Cassin) 



Ephialtes sagittatus Cassin, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 4, p. 121, 

 1848 (Malacca); Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2, vol. 2, p. 96, 

 pi. 12, fig. 2, 1852. 



One male, Kao Soi Dao, Trang, January 5, 1934. 



This is the first specimen taken of tliis rare owl on Siamese territory. 



Stuart Baker ^ speaks of Herbert taldng numerous eggs of this 

 species around Samkok, but I cannot find that he even took the 

 bird, much less the eggs. Mr. Baker may have incorporated matter 

 belonging to another species. 



The species ranges from Tenasserim south to the Malay States. 



It is peculiarly marked. The forehead, as far back as the middle 

 of the orbit, and superciliaries are white; above tawny, deepening to 

 russet on crown and nape, sparsely covered with sagittate spots of 

 light fulvous, bordered on the lower margin with black; cheeks 

 white, bordered posteriorly with black; throat white, the feathers 

 barred with seal brown and fulvous; below clay color, with sagittate 

 seal-brown bars or spots, the chest with fine dusky barring; the eyes 

 are surrounded or nearly so by a mars-brown circle, becoming blackish 

 on the upper lid in front. The feathering on the tarsi does not quite 

 reach the toes. The wing measures 187 mm. This is not a complete 

 description, but it is sufficient for present purposes. 



This owl is so peculiar that it is a question whether it really belongs 

 in this genus or whether it should be removed and a new genus 

 erected for it. 



ATHENE BRAMA PULCHRA Hume 



Athene pulchra Hume, Stray Feathers, vol. 1, p. 469, 1873 (Pegu). 



One male and one female, Rajaguri, April 10, 1926; two males, 

 Muang Kanburi, April 7 and September 11, 1928; one female, Nakon 

 Panom, March 8, 1929; one male, Udon, March 19, 1929. 



The series is quite uniform, both above and below. 



This bird is recorded by Herbert as rather common about 40 miles 

 north of Bangkok and northward. His specimens have been remarked 

 upon by Baker,* Chasen and Kloss® record it from Raheng; Deignan'" 

 reports it common at Chiengmai. Herbert ^' found it breeding in 

 the Samkok district in January and February, laying three or four 

 eggs to a set, and the editor noted that the form had recently estab- 

 lished itself in the Bangkok district. De Schauensee ^^ took a series 

 on his third expedition at Chiengmai, Sriracha, Kengkoi, and Tung 

 Sio. A female taken at Sriracha on February 8 had an egg in the 



' The fauna of British India, F.irds, ed. 2, vol. 4, p. 431, 1927. 



fJourn. Nat. Hist. Soc. Siam, vol. 4, p. 27, 1920. 



» Journ. Siam Soc. Nat. llist. Suppl., vol. 7, p. 164, 1928. 



"Journ. Siam Soc. Nat. Hist. Suppl., vol. 8, p. 164, 1931. 



'1 Journ. Siam Soc. Hist. Suppl., vol. 6, p. 328, 1926. 



" Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 86, p. 268, 1934. 



