3G Mr. R. B. Sharpc on the Genus Glaiicidium, 



the ornithological public Avithout delay. In the study of 

 Glaucidium I have not only had the Museum collection at 

 handj but Mr. Salvin most kindly lent the entire series con- 

 tained in the Salvin-Godman collection^ probably the finest 

 existing in any public or private museum in the world. Mr. 

 J. H. Gurney, too, was so good as to look out a series from 

 the Norwicli IVIuscum to examine ; and to the authorities of 

 the latter museum I retiu'n my best thanks, as well as to Mr. 

 Dresser and other friends who have lent me specimens or 

 otherwise assisted me in the preparation of this paper. 



To facilitate comparison I propose in the folloAving notes 

 to consider the genus exactly in the same order as jNIr. Ridg- 

 way has done — because in this way we may understand each 

 other's position better, the difficulty consisting in the unequal 

 character of our respective series, the one examined by me 

 being probably better than his as regards neotropical examples, 

 but far inferior to his in those from Northern America. Mr. 

 Ridgway's synopsis includes eight species with two " varie- 

 ties," viz. : — 1. G. 2jasser'mum cum («) xaw passerinum et {b) 

 var. californicum ; 2. G. pumilum ; 3. G. lansbergi ; 4. G. 

 jardiyiii; 5. G.ferruginemn; 6. G. infuscatum cum (a) var. in- 

 fuscatum et {b) var. gnoma ; 7. G. nanuni ; and 8. G. siju. 

 The principal character which divides these species is con- 

 sidered to be the markings of the crown, whether dots or 

 longitudinal streaks. This is a tolerably good character ; but 

 it. is open to an objection which I do not think Mr. Ridgway 

 has fully appreciated — relating to the sequence of the plumages 

 assumed by maturing birds, and also to the rufous colour 

 exhibited by individuals of certain species. Only in one 

 species, G. jnmiilum, does Mr. Riilgway give characters of the 

 young bird ; but, from the I'cmarks there made, I am incliiied 

 to believe that he will coincide with me in my conviction, 

 that, whether the adult birds have dotted or striped heads, the 

 young of most species have a nearly uniform crown, Avith 

 only a few hair-like lines on the forehead. From an exami- 

 nation of nestling or quite young birds, I believe that the 

 uniform croAvn in the young is characteristic of the following 

 species: — 1. Glaucidium pusscrinum ; 2. G. gnoma; 3. G. 



