264 .MR. AV. P. PYCEAFT ON THE 



That the common resemhlances which pervade the whole group are many, no one mil 

 deny, but that nevertheless every species possesses some slight departure of its own from 

 the main tyj)e, which, judiciously combined with other external characters, such as the 

 form of the external ear and of the cere, will absolutely distinguish it from every other, 

 is a fact which T believe I have been the first to point out ; it now awaits the test of 

 criticism from other quarters. 



On the strength of the evidence brought to light during the coarse of the present 

 investigation, I have felt justified in removing certai" genera from their moss-grown 

 pedestals and placing them elsewhere, or even suppressing their claims to generic rank 

 altogether. Sometimes this has been but an act of restoration, sometimes of innovation. 

 This spiriting away of genera has led to the complete isolation of forms generally closely 

 associated : thus, Asio, Syrninm, and Nyctala have been regarded as closely allied by such 

 authorities as Prof. Newton, Dr. Sharjje, and Mr. Ridgway for instance, on the strength 

 of the possession of an operculum and the size of the external aperture of the ear ; 

 nevertheless, I ventixre to think that this relationship is only apparent. 



The genus Syrnium of Dr. Sharpe's Catalogue, again, probably includes several species 

 which will have to be similarly separated. I infer this from the fact that his Syrnium 

 2iers2ncillatum — the Bubo torqnahis of the present paper — belongs undoubtedly to the 

 genus Bubo, since, apart from the absence of an operculum and the small size of the 

 external aperture of the ear, its pterylosis alone shows it to be much more closely allied 

 to this genus than to Syrimmi. 



The real position of Sceloglaux and Ninox has proved a bard nut to crack, the former 

 especially so. In its general pterolysis it closely resembles Bubo, in the form of the 

 cere and external aperture of the ear it resembles Scops, while it differs from both these 

 genera in the great width of the lumbar division of the spinal tract ; but whether on this 

 account it is entitled to generic rank is open to question. Certain points in the osteology 

 of the skull — to be discussed in my next paper — would have inclined me to place it in 

 the Nyctalincc ; and it remains to be-seen whether, when the rest of its anatomy has been 

 worked out, these suspicions will be confirmed. 



Bubo nycteus, again, has proved rather a stumbling-block. Is this, or is it not, 

 \\ orthy of generic rank ? 



To jilace Carine and Speotyto in the same genvis would, I fear, rouse some adverse 

 criticism. I am sorry, but at present this seems necessary. After I have completed my 

 study of the two forms it is jiossible that I shall find that, after all, they are worthy of 

 separate generic rank. 



The skull and the aperture of the ear of Syrnium, uralense and S. lapponicum are generally 

 described as asymmetrical. Whatever may be the case in the latter sj)ecies, in the 

 former this region is most certainly symmetrical, as is proved by a specimen in the flesh 

 generously furnished me by my much-lamented friend Mr. Meinertzhagen. I have 

 besides a skull of this species kindly lent to me by Prof. Newton, which is also quite 

 symmetrical. 



That the nestling-down of ptilopsedic birds may consist of two distinct kinds of feathers 

 is a point of some interest, and which may yield some useful facts if carefully 



