11. NINoX. 185 



23. Ninox variegata. 



Noctua Tariegata, Quoy ^- Gaim. Vui/. de FAstr. Zool. i. p. 106, pi. 1. 



fig. 2. 

 Athene variegata, Grai/, Gen. B. i. p. 3.5 ; Bp. Consp. i. p. 41 ; Stnckl. 



Orn. Sijn. p. 173 ; Wall. Ibis, 1808, p. 24 ; Gray, Hancl-l. B. i. 



p. 41. 

 Cephaloglaux variegatus, Kaup, Coiitr. Orn. 1852, p. 108; id. Tr. Z. 



S. iv. p. 21G. 

 Rliabdoglaux variegata, Bp. Rev. et Mat/, de Zool. 1854, p. 544. 

 Ninox variegata, S/iarpe, Ibis, 1875, pp. 257, 259. 



Adult (type of species). Upper surface rufoiis bro-wn, with narrow 

 concealed white bars on all the dorsal feathers, more distinct on the 

 scapulars, where they are broader on the outer web ; head rather 

 browner than the back, washed with rufous on the sides, and slightly 

 spotted with white on the forehead ; the hind neck more rufous than 

 the head, and approaching the colour of the back, much varied with 

 fulvous and white spots and bars, somewhat concealed on the centre, 

 but very plain on the sides of the neck ; wing-coverts browner than 

 the back, the least series nearly uniform, with very few spots of 

 fulvous, the greater and median series baiTed with rufous buff, in- 

 clining to white bars or spots on the outer web, and producing a 

 spotted appearance ; primary-coverts dark brown, with dull fulves- 

 cent cross bars; quills brown, barred with lighter brown, shading 

 into a white spot on the outer web, and ])roducing a spotted appear- 

 ance ; upper tail-coverts rufous brown like the back, with the same 

 half-concealed bars and spots of white ; tail brown, crossed with 

 ten bands of pale fulvous brown ; lores and frontal feathers whitish, 

 the former with distinct black shaft-lines, the latter produced a little 

 backwards, and forming a small eyebrow ; ear-coverts dark brown 

 like the crown, slightly washed with rufous ; cheeks ochraceous, the 

 fore part whitish, the chin also whitish ; fore neck ochraceous buif, 

 streaked with brown ; rest of under surface of body white, barred 

 across with orange-rufous in about equal proportions on the breast, 

 the abdomen, however, much whiter, the orange bars being nar- 

 rower ; leg-feathers pale fulvous ; under tail-coverts white, with a 

 few streaks and bars of orange-brown ; under wing-coverts orange, 

 barred with brown, but the greater series ashy brown, with buffy 

 white bars, more resembling the inner lining of the quills, these 

 being ashy brown, barred with pale ochraceous brown, broader on 

 the inner web ; bill yellow ; toes yellow, claws horn-brown. Total 

 length 10 inches, wing 7-9, tail 4*6, tarsus 1-3. {Mus. Paris.) 



Hah. New Ireland. 



24. Ninox hantu. (Plate XI. fig. 1.) 



Athene hantu. Wall. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 22 ; id. Ibis, 1868, p. 23 : Grai/ 

 Hand-l. B. i. p. 41. •" 



Ninox hantu, Sharpe, Ibis, 1875, p. 250. 



Aihdt (tj-pc of species). Above didl chestnut-rufous, the head 

 darker and decidedly browner, the hind neck with a few indistinct 



