256 Mr. C. H. B. Grant on a Collection of 



case iu the European Brown Owl^ where the paler, less dark, 

 birds ai'e the young of the year), hut a young bird from 

 British E. Africa, still in downy dress, is assuming a blackish 

 plumage. 



It would, however, appear that the first dress (i. e. that 

 in which the young leave the nest) is always pale and rufous; 

 though the feathering being very soft and downy precludes 

 it being confounded with more adult birds. 



The named races of this Owl are as follows : — 



Surnium umhrinum Heugl. J. f. O. 1863, p. 12 : Bege- 

 raeder, Abyssinia. 



Syimium ni(/ricantius Sharpe, Ibis, 1897, p. 449 : Mpapwa, 

 German East Africa. 



Syrnium ivoodfordi var. suahelicum Rchw. Werth. Mitth. 

 Hochl. 1898, p. 272 : German East Africa. 



Syrnium ivoodfordi var. sansibaricuin Rchw. op. cit. : 

 Zansiibar. 



[Irides brown, eyelids light brown ; bill yellow ; feet 

 yellow. Stomach contained insects. Only two Avere seen, 

 in the thick bush along a small stream.] 



128. Glaucidium perlatum. African Pearl-spotted Owlet. 

 Strix perlata Vieill. N. D. d'Hist. Nat. vol. vii. p. 26: 

 Senegal. 



a. ? . Kito, 60 miles X.W. of Baringo, 4100 ft. Jan. 2. 

 h. S ' Kerio River, 3400 ft. Jan. 5. 



c. S ' 10 miles N.W. of Kerio River, 3600 ft. Jan. 5. 



d. S - Weiwei River, Rift Valley, 3100 ft. Jan. 7. 



e. ? . Nakwai Hills, 3900 ft. Feb. 6. 



Total length in flesh : c? 8^ & 8 inches ; ? 8^ & 7| 

 inches. Wing: S 111-107 mm.; ? 107 mm. 



At the first glance at the series of this Owl in the Museum 

 collection there appears to be more than one form, but when 

 they are laid out in their localities it becomes at once 

 apparent that no stress can be laid upon any particular 

 character which might warrant separation. 



The two most striking plumages are that which is fully 

 spotted and that which is practically plain on the upper parts. 



