98 jNIr. J. Wliiteliead on Birch 



calling just before sunset, and T was fortunately close to the 

 spot. It presently flew from the tree and settled in the 

 open, where it was an easy shot. 



I was not fortunate in securing further specimens during 

 this expedition, although I was several times within a few 

 yards of the birds. During daytime these Owls roost in 

 the thick fern and grass-tangles near the ground, where it is 

 quite impossible to see them. We heard this Owl again the 

 following year once or twice on the summit of Monte Data, 

 and obtained another specimen. 



Iris bright yellow; bill blackish; feet pinkish brown. 



29. Scops mindorensis, sp. nov. 



Scops sp. Grant, Ibis, 1896, p. 462. 



During a lengthened expedition to the highlands of Min- 

 doro — which was^ most unfortunately, in the wet season — 

 one of my hunters shot a small Scops Owl. The bird was 

 much destroyed, having been fired at within five yards, and 

 one side of the breast was blown away. 



In 'The Ibis,' October 1896, p. 462, Mr. Grant gave 

 several reasons for the Miudoro Scops being specifically dis- 

 tinct from S. longicornis of Luzon, but declined to describe it. 

 The Mindoro specimen is an adult female : the ovary con- 

 tained well-developed eggs. The white in the Luzon birds 

 is replaced by pale bufll"; the bristles at the sides of the 

 mandible are much shorter, also the ear-tufts. The size is 

 much smaller than that of the Luzon males, instead of con- 

 siderably larger, as is the rule in females of this genus. 



Scops longicornis, ^ . Total length 80 inches, wing 5'6, 

 tail 2'9, tarsus 1'15. 



Scops mindorensis, ? . Total length 7*2 inches, wing 5*3, 

 tail 2*5, tarsus 1'15. 



In Scops whiteheadi the female is much larger than the 

 piale : — 



^ . Total length 9'5 to 10 inches, wing 7*3 to 7°4, tail 3'6 

 to 3*7, tarsus 1*65. 



? . Total length 11 to 11-4 inches, wing 77 to 8, tail 3-9 

 to 4, tarsus 165 to 1*9. 



