4. SCOPS. 71 



white, some of the lateral feathers with narrow linear cross mark- 

 ings of brown, the plumes of the lower throat sandy bull', with 

 central markings and narrow lateral bars of black, the rest of the 

 under surface entirely sandy bulf, the chest-feathers very broadly 

 centred with black, the abdominal plumes rather more narrowly ; 

 all the feathers crossed with narrow blackish lines, the interspaces 

 becoming gradually paler on the lower breast and flanks, which 

 have thus the appearance of being regularly barred with light buif ; 

 under taU-coverts yellowish buff, with blackish shaft-streaks and a 

 few lateral bars towards the tips ; under wing-coverts sandy buff, 

 the outermost strongly mottled with brown, the lowest series ashy 

 brown, fulvous at base, and thus resembling the inner lining of the 

 quUls, ^\'hich are ashy brown below, more or less distinctly barred 

 with sandj' buff for the whole extent of the inner webs ; bill dusky ; 

 feet pale ; iris yellow. Total length 9 inches, wing 6"65, tail 3-5, 

 tarsus 1-3. 



Adult male. Different from the female in not being so universally 

 barred, the upper surface being more vermiculated, while the imder 

 surface of the bodj^ has lost many traces of the blackish cross lines, 

 and the lighter fulvous bars are not nearly so well characterized, 

 though many of the bars on the lo\\'er breast, abdomen, and flanks 

 are pure white. Total length 9 inches, wing 7, tail 3-7, tarsus 1-3. 



Hub. Ceramj Amboina. 



Ohs. I follow Mr. Wallace in keeping the Ceram specimens as 

 typical S. mmjicus, as they are doubtless the same as Amboyna 

 birds. The characteristic feature of this Scops-Owl is its yellow 

 plumage, which pervades the entire aspect of the bird both above 

 and below. The ruff and ear-coverts are ochraccous buff; and there 

 is no sign of white on the scapidars, which are externally yellowish. 

 There is no perceptible collar round the hind neck ; and the entire 

 upper surface is very strongly banded with fulvous. 



Leg of S. ))iaf/ict(s. 



