106 BTBONIDiE. 



of the ear-coverts, which are tipped with black, and thus assimilate 

 to the ruff, which is composed of greyish white feathers tipped with 

 black, before which is a subterminal bar of orange, the plumes on 

 the throat crossed with several greyish black lines ; chin fulvous ; 

 rest of under surface white, with wavy cross lines of blackish, many 

 of the feathers with broad central streaks of black, very distinct on 

 the abdomen, where the vermiculations are fewer, being almost ob- 

 solete on the under tail-coverts, which are white washed with 

 orange-buff; the broad central streaks on the breast-feathers in 

 many cases edged with rufous ; leg-feathers whitish, barred with 

 brown on the outer aspect, and streaked with the same on the inner 

 face of the tarsus ; the tibia yellowish ; under wing-coverts yel- 

 lowish, the outer edge of the wing white, the adjacent feathers 

 mottled with brown, the lower series ashy brown, like the inner 

 lining of the quills, barred with fulvous, especially on the inner 

 web. Total length fi-5 inches, wing 5"35, tail 2-7, tarsus 0-85. 



Itufoiis phase. Orange-rufous where the other bird is grey, the 

 markings exactly similar, and the three bands visible on the head 

 and hind neck, the occij^ital one being the most difficult to trace ; 

 under surface very coarsely mottled, the cross bars being broad, and 

 the central black streaks very distinct ; all the lower parts strongly 

 pervaded with orange-buff, forming a distinct patch on the throat. 

 Total length 6-5 inches, wing 5-15, tail 2-S, tarsus 0-85. 



Ohs. Both the specimens above noticed are fi*om Mexico. Mr. 

 Salvin has kindly lent me two from Guatemala, which, besides being 

 larger, differ also in the peculiar way in which the orange and grey 

 are intermingled ; the stripes on the sides of the head, as well as the 

 three characteristic bands, are very highly developed ; the eyes are 

 surrounded by bright orange-buff, which is also the pervading colour 

 on the ear-coverts. Measurements are as follows ; — 



Total 



length. Wing. Tail. Tarsus, 



in. in. in. in. 



a. Ad. Dueiias, 1863 6-5 5-4 2-6 09 



6. Ad. Duenas, January 1863.... 7-0 6-5 2-7 I'O 



The present species, which is the representative in America of 

 Scops giu, appears to be veiy variable ; and although grey birds often 

 have an admixture of orange in their plumage, sometimes this dis- 

 appears, perhaps with age, as in the British Museum is a perfectly 

 grey bird, on which scarcely a tinge of orange colouring remains, 

 either above or below, while the whole appearance of the specimen 

 is dingy, owing to the closeness and frequency of the vermicidations. 



Hab. California ; extreme southern portion of United States, 

 ranging through Mexico to Guatemala. 



