BIRDS OF CUBA 87 



152. Asio stygius siguapa (d'Orbigny). 

 Stygian Owl; Siguapa. 



My three Stygian Owls, one from Aguada de Pasajeros, Cuba, and 

 two from the Isle of Pines, are all just alike and are all less richly colored, 

 much grayer, than one (M. C. Z., no. 72,5H formerly S. I., no. 35,123) 

 from Mirador, Vera Cruz, Mexico, Dr. C. Sartorius. The pallid coloring 

 of the facial disc is very noticeable. I have therefore followed Bangs and 

 Zappey, and not Todd, in sustaining this subspecies. 



Gundlach speaks of the diminution of the numbers of these Owls as a 

 result of deforestation and of the fact that they are killed whenever possible, 

 as being of ill omen. They are not common, to be sure, but I often have 

 heard them, and have seen a good many flying at night. They become 

 active usually long after dark, hence are much more often heard than seen. 

 Their voice is an oft-repeated who, ivho, like a person calling. I agree with 

 Gundlach that they prefer deep, dark woods; nevertheless my Aguada 

 specimen was shot in a tree by no means dense, in an open pasture. I have 

 seen a few others in the open pine woods of western Pinar del Rio. These 

 Owls might be successfully trapped on posts near big woodlands. This 

 would be well worth trying, as specimens are very rare in all collections. 

 The Owl in the field looks like an earless, and very dark. Short-eared Owl, 

 only somewhat larger. 



153. Asio flammeus flammeus (Pontoppidan). 

 Short-eared Owl; Carabo. 



A very accidental visitor. When Gundlach got two from the Havana 

 market in 1849, he recognized them as fortuitous arrivals, but years later, 

 when the resident Porto Rican Short-eared Owl was described, he felt that 

 perhaps his Cuban birds belonged with them. He had no material for 

 comparison, and his first conclusion was correct. However, it is well enough 

 known in Cuba to have a special name. 



