Mr. R. B. Sliarpe on the Genus Glaucidium. 47 



I think that any one will see a connexion between the 

 rufous-tailed specimens inter se, and again with the black- 

 tailed ones ; and I believe that they must all be referred to 

 one species ; indeed, I do not see how any one can get away 

 from the fact that Mr. Ridgway is right in supposing that 

 two distinct phases are present in the bird he calls G. ferru- 

 gineiim. The rufous on the tails would prevent any of our 

 present series from belonging to G. gnoma ; and yet a great 

 step towards the latter is made by the blackish-tailed speci- 

 men_, where the rufous bands shade into white on their outer 

 web. The black-tailed birds are likewise males and more 

 • grey than the rufous-tailed examples, which are generally of 

 a more rufous shade altogether. 



I give the measurements of a few specimens from each 

 locality : — 



Total 

 length. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 



a, ad. W. Mexico (Mus. Brit.) 7-0 39 2-G 0-85 



b, S ad. Cordova (Salle) 6-5 37 27 075 



c, $ a(7. „ , 6-5 3-8 2-85 0-8 



d, ad. Orizaba (Mus. S. ^ G.) 6-5 3-G5 27 075 



e, ad. Mexico (Le Strange) 6-3 37 27 0-85 



/, $ «^. „ „ 6-5 375 27 0-85 



(j,S (icl „ „ • • 6-5 3-65 27 0-85 



Guatemala. A large series has been lent me by Mr. Salvin, 

 which repeat to a great extent the characters of the Mexican 

 series, as can be seen by the following tabulation [see p. 48] . 



The rufous-tailed specimens are also more rufous in general 

 coloration ; those with the white tinge to the rufous bars are 

 ' more umber-brown, while those with the white spots ( = G. 

 gnoma, of Ridgway) are much greyer. 



Besides the specimens above mentioned, Mr. Salvin has 

 four birds which exhibit a somewhat remarkable jDlumage, 

 being almost uniform rufous, with the exception of a few 

 nearly obsolete bars and spots of brighter rufous on the head ; 

 and these markings exist only in two out of the four examples. 

 The primary quills and tail-feathers, however, are very dif- 

 ferent from those of G. ferrugineum, having no complete bars, 

 but are blackish brown, with a more or less distinct rufous 



