Mr. R. B. Sharpe on new African Birds. 101 



SCOTOPELIA USSHERI, Sp. n. 



S. ferruginea, supra unicolor : subtus dilutior, rachibus plumarum 

 auguste brunneo notatis : alarum et caudre plumis in pogo- 

 nio interno nigro fasciatis, illarum latius, hujus angustius : 

 tibiis fulvescentibus unicoloribus. Long. tot. 19"5 poll, 

 angl.j alse 12"5, caudse 7*5, tarsi 2*1. 

 The above short description is quite sufficient to separate the 

 new Owl from the well-known Scotopelia peli, from which it 

 differs in the following characters, viz. in its smaller size, in the 

 uniform rufous colouring of the upper surface, and in the different 

 coloration of the lower surface of the body, which is rust-coloured, 

 everywhere distinctly striped with dark brown along the centre 

 of the feather. In S. peli the centre of the breast is rich 

 cream-colour, while only the sides of the body are streaked with 

 rufous brown, these streaks having rather the appearance of lon- 

 gitudinal drops on the plumage. The disparity in size between 

 the two species is evinced by the following measurements : — 



Long. tot. Al. Caud, Tarsi. 



1. Scotoplia peli. Ex Zambesi 22-0 17-0 10-5 2-4 



2. Scotopelia ussheri. Ex Fantee . . 19-5 12*5 7-5 2-1 



While on the subject of African ornithology, I may draw 

 attention to a species of Finch in my collection, which appears 

 not to have been described, and which I propose to name 



POLIOSPIZA CROCOPYGIA, Sp.n. 



6 . P. supra pallide fusca, plumis medialiter obscurioribus : linea 

 superciliari et stria suboculari albidis : genis fuscis : tectri- 

 cibus alarum, remigibus et rectricibus nigricanti-fuscis, pal- 

 lida fusco marginatis : dorso postico et uropygio cum tectri- 

 cibus supracaudalibus leetissime sulphureis, his fusco mixtis : 

 gula, abdomine ct tectricibus subcaudalibus pure albis : pec- 

 tore superiore et hypochondriis fuscis : subalaribus albidis, 

 sulphureo lavatis : gula media et laterali maculis fuscis par- 

 vulis notatis : rostro pallide brunneo, mandibula albescente : 

 pedibus fusco-brunneis. 

 2 mari omuino similis, sed subalaribus flavo baud tinctis. 



Above pale greyish-bi'own, the middle of the feathers darker, 

 giving a striped appearance on the head, and mottled on the 

 back ; lower part of the back, rump, and upper tail-coverts 

 bright sulphur-yellow, the latter somewhat tinged with brown, 

 owing to the basal portion of the feather being of this colour ; 



