440 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on the 



its very long ear-tufts and partially naked tarsi. It appears 

 to be ratlier an older specimen than the type, and though 

 otherwise extremely similar in plumage, the sides of the face, 

 top of tlie head, and upper parts are somewhat darker. The 

 measurements of the present bird are almost identical with 

 those of the type. I regret that, owing to a slip of the pen, 

 the length of the tarsus (see Ibis, 1894, p. 504) is given as 

 " 2-15 " instead of I'lS inches. This bird appears to be very 

 scarce, and is said to be extremely difficult to obtain. 



13. Scops whitehead:, Grant, Bull. B. O. C. iv. p. xl 



(1895). 



After his return from the Benguet district, Mr. Whitehead 

 wrote to me : — " There is a bird, animal, or devil that makes 

 the most curious noise at dusk. I think it must be a large 

 Owl, but, though often out after it, I never got near even to 

 the place where the noise came from." Writing again last 

 February, he says : — " I have a fine large Scops, the bird that 

 makes the curious demon-like cry at night/' 



In addition to several adult specimens of both sexes, he 

 sends a very young Owlet, which is apparently the young of 

 this species, as the tarsi are feathered and it bears the same 

 date (14th February, 1895) as one of the females, and was 

 doubtless her offspring. 



This remarkably fine new species is most nearly related to 

 Sco2}s everetti of Tweeddale, from the island of Mindanao, 

 but it is very much larger, and is, in fact, the largest Scops 

 at present known to inhabit the Old World. The feathering 

 on the tarsi extends over the basal joints of the toes ; the 

 light cross-bars on the inner webs of the quills are much less 

 conspicuous ; and the middle of the lower breast and belly is 

 uniform whitish buff, in marked contrast to the sides. 



Both the grey and rufous phases of plumage are repre- 

 sented. 



Adult ^ . Total length 9-5-10 inches, wing 7-3-7'4, tail 

 3-6-3-7, tarsus 1-65. 



Adult ? . Total length 11 -0-1 1-4 inches, wing 7' 7-8-0, 

 tail 3-9-4-0, tarsus 1-65-1-9. 



