PROCEEDINCIS OF UNITED 8TATE8 NATIONAL MlISEUxM. 87 



another very niucli more closely tlian do the two extreme pimses of any 

 one species! The ycogiaiihieal vaiiations are also nnnsually pro- 

 nounced, while last, but by no means least of the obstacles presented, 

 IS the very c^reat ranjj^e of individnal variation within even a limited 



area of country. 



Genus SCOPS, Savigny. 



= ^<'o;w, Savign., Descr. de I'figj-pte, 1809, 291 (type, Strix scops, Linu.)-— Cass., iu 

 Build, B. N. Am. 1858, 51.— Coues. Key, 1872, 202.— B. B. & R., Hist. N. Am. B. 

 iii, 1874, 47. — < SnAHPE, Cat. .Strij;. Brif. Mas. 1875, 43 (inchides Lophoslrir, 

 Less.). 

 = Ep}daliies, Kkvs. ,S: Bi.as., Wirb. Em. 1840, p. xxxiii (type, i<tnx ><cops, lAwn. — Xeo 

 Sclirank, 1802). 

 V Pisorhina, Katp, Isis, 1848, 7t>9 (type, Scopn laenadenxis, Qaoy A- Claim.). 

 = Megascops, Kaup, \. c. (type, Strix lempiji, Horsf.). 

 ? Acnemis, Kaup, L c. (type, Scops giiinnopodioi, Gray). 

 ? Ptilopsis, Kaup, I.e. (type, Strix U-iicotis, Temm.). 

 = Lempijius, Bonap., Rev. et Mag de Zool. 1854,542 (type, Olns semitorqms, Schleg. i. 



Generic Characters. — Small owls with distinct ear tufts, the tarsus 

 more or less feathered (usually completely feathered), the wings ample 

 (more than twice the length of the short, slightly rounded tail), the 

 plum,age exceedingly variegated with vermiculations, cross-bars, and 

 mottlings; toes naked or bristled — never completely feathered, except 

 toward the base. 



The above brief diagno.sis is sufiSeientto characterize this group. In 

 general aspect tlie species of this genus are miniatuies of those which 

 belong to the genus Btibo^ and are perhaps as nearly related structu- 

 rally to the latter as to any other members of the family. 



All the American species have the outer webs of the scapulars mostly 

 light colored (generally white, with a blackish terminal border — rusty- 

 ochraceous in flammcolus and the darker iormsot brasiliamis), producing 

 a more or less distinct stripe along each side of the dorsal region ; the 

 feathers of the upper and lower parts usually with blackish shaft- 

 streaks, those beneath generally with narrow transverse bars : outer 

 webs of the remiges with light-colored spots, and the tail more or less 

 distinctly (never sharpl.s ) banded. All the species are, iu some part of 

 their range, dichromatic, having a bright rufous i)hase, quite different 

 from the " normal " grayish plumage. 



Kei) to the Sjyecies. 



A. — Toes and lower half (or more) of tarsus completely naked ... 1. S. nudipen. 

 B. — Toes alone (or with merely lower end of tarsus) completely 



naked • 2. <S'. brasilianus. 



3. *S'. harbarus. 



4. S. Jtammeohix. 

 C. — Toes strongly bristled, sometimes densely feathered at base. .5. S. asio. 



6. S. cooper i. 



By the above characters, the American species of this genus are 

 readily divided into three groups. It now remains to distinguish 



