368 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



2. A. PORTORiCENSis. Dorsal region nearly uniform dark brown ; 

 outer webs of primaries with the ochraceous spaces scarcely or 

 not at all more extensive than the brown ones on the basal por- 

 tion of the quills. Wing, 11.25-12.00. Hab.— Porto Rico. 



b. Legs marked with narrow dusky streaks ; lower parts with a greater 

 or less number of transverse bars ; first primary scarcely shorter thau 

 the second. 



3. A. GALAPAGOENSis. Dorsal region irregularly barred or trans- 

 versely spotted with fulvous ; outer webs of primaries with the 

 brown spaces more extensive than the fulvous ones, on the basal 

 portion of the quills. Wing, 11.00. ffab. — Galapagos. Islands. 



I am aware that my conclusions, as given above, are somewhat 

 different from those of Mr. R. B. Sharj)e in vol. ii as expresi^ed in 

 his ^'Catalogue of the Striges^^ in the British Museum (pp. 238,239). 

 Mr. Sharpe there arranges the specimens of A. accipitrinus in the Brit- 

 ish Museum collection under four headings, as follows: '■'■a. Asio accipi- 

 trinus,^^ '^ i3. Asio cassini,''^ ^'•y. Asio galapagoensis,^^ and "<J. Asio sand- 

 wichensis" ; this arrangement being based upon the examination of 39 

 specimens of the first, 24 of ";S", 3 of "^", and 2 specimens of the last 

 named. He admits, however, the impossibility of always distinguishing 

 between American and European specimens, though he states that "in 

 America the general run of the specimens is rather darker and more 

 ochraceous," both of which statements entirely agree with my own ob- 

 servations. The Falkland Island birds, says Mr. Sharpe, "seem perma- 

 nently rufescent, but cannot be distinguished from some Chilian skins; 

 and as some of the latter" agree perfectly with European examples, no 

 line for specific separation can be drawn." As for myself, never having 

 seen specimens from the Falkland Islands, I am unable to comment 

 thereon. 



The Galapagos Short-eared Owl is referred by Mr. Sharpe to A. 

 accipitrinus solely, it appears, on account of the close resemblance 

 between a Bogota skin and specimens from those islands in general 

 darkness of coloration ; but since the former is especially stated to lack 

 the leg- streaks, which constitute perhaps the most important character 

 of coloration in A. galapagoensis, it would seem that such a view of the 

 case is hardly warranted. That this disposition of A. galapagoensis was, 

 however, made very doubtfully by Mr. Sharpe is evident from his remarks 

 in connection with the subject, as follows : "The Owl from the Galapagos 

 is by far the most different of any, by reason of its small size, dark 

 coloration, golden forehead, and striped thigh-feathers. I have never 

 seen a specimen from any other locality exhibiting the latter character ; 

 at the same time a Bogota skin in every other respect approaches it in 

 appearance, and therefore, although I admit that at present it would 

 appear to be specifically distinct, I should like to be sure that the I:>rew 

 Granadan Short-eared Owl would not form a connectiug link." 



"The specimens from the Sandwich Islands," says Mr. Sharpe, "form 



I 



