32G Mr. 11. B. Sharpc on the Genus Strix. 



In ]809 Savigny (Descr. de FEgypte, 8vo, p. 291) published 

 an entire revision of the Striges, and defined all his genera in 

 an orthodox fashion. His was by far the most scientific of the 

 ornithological works published up to his time ; and the incom- 

 pleteness of his contemplated work is ever to be regretted. 

 He defined clearly the genera Syrnium (type Strix aluco, L.) 

 and Scops (type Strix scops, L.). His genus Bubo was a 

 composite one, containing the Strix otus of Linnaeus and a 

 large Egyptian Horned Owl (his Bubo ascalaphus) , the repre- 

 sentative of the European Asio bubo (Linnseus) . But; more 

 important than all, Savigny characterized the genus Strix, 

 and designated Strix flammea as the type. This he was per- 

 fectly justified in doing, as no type had previously been 

 assigned. 



For the sake of clearness, and at the risk even of being 

 tedious, I present to my readers the condition of the Striges 

 after Savigny had handled them in 1809. 



1. Asio, Briss. 

 {Otus, Cuvier; Bubo, Dumeril, Savigny.) 



1. A. bubo (L.) ; 2. A. scandiaca (L.) ; 3. A. otus (L.). 



2. SuRNiA, Dumeril. 

 4. S. ulula (L.) ; 5. S.funerea (L.). 



3. Syrnium, Savigny. 



6. (Sf. aluco (L. : stridula, L.). 



4. Scops, Savigny. 



7. S. giu (Scop.) { = Strix scops, Linn.); 8. S. asio (L.)"^'. 



5. Strix, Linn, et auct. prseced. partim. 

 {Strix, Savigny, as restricted.) 



9. S. flammea, L. ; 10. S. nyctea, L. ; 11. S. passer ina. 

 In 1817 a further modification of the Asiones took place 



* Scops asio has always been recognized as a true Scops, and may be 

 liere disposed of along with S. giu. It was not mentioned by Savigny, 

 being non-Egyptian. 



