I50 BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA — PART 2 



Panama at Charco del Toro, inland on the Rio Maje, and on the 

 south base of Cerro Chucanti ; also on the Rio Boqueron near the 

 Peluca Hydrographic Station, and on the Rio Pequeni near Candela- 

 ria. In Darien I have noted them on the upper Rio Jaque, in the 

 Tuira Basin at Boca de Paya on the Rio Tuira, and near the mouth of 

 the Tuquesa on the Rio Chucunaque. 



The 1 specimen reported for Lion Hill by Salvin and Godman (Biol. 

 Centr.-Amer., Aves, vol. 3, 1897, p. 21), based on an individual in 

 the British Museum, collected by McLeannan, I find is Otus choliba 

 hictisonus. The report by Eisenmann (Smithsonian Misc. Coll., vol. 

 117, no. 6, 1952, p. 24) that this owl has been "collected at Frijoles" 

 is based on Ridgway (U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 50, pt. 6, 1914, p. 726). 

 This may refer to McLeannan's early work, but I know of no speci- 

 men with the locality in question. The valid Canal Zone record listed 

 above is of 1 in the U.S. National Museum, taken on the Rio Trinidad 

 by August Busck in May 1911. 



The call that I have identified as that of this species is a quavering 

 trill, rather prolonged, similar in cadence from beginning to end, 

 with no differing emphasis in any part. I have heard it always in 

 forest, usually in the lower tree crown. As the eyes of this species do 

 not shine in reflected light, I have never been able to locate them 

 when hunting with electric head lamps at night. 



Near Utive, at the south base of Cerro Azul, on March 19, 1949, my 

 companion W. M. Perrygo had shot a small bird, and with two 

 Panamanians, I stood watching him clean the feathers preparatory to 

 placing it in a paper cone for safe carriage. Presently, I saw a small 

 vermiculated screech owl watching us from a tree perch only 5 or 6 

 meters distant. The bird rested with head bent forward, feathers 

 pressed closely on head and body, and the ear tufts displayed so 

 prominently that at first glance, in the dim forest light, I took it for 

 a small mammal. It was a female with a forming egg nearly ready 

 for the shell in the oviduct. 



I have no information on the nesting of this species. 



OTUS CHOLIBA (Vieillot) : Choliba Screech Owl; 

 Buhito Rayado 



Figure 22 



Strix choliba Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat., Nouv. ed., vol. 7, March 1817, 

 p. 39. (Paraguay.) 



A small eared owl, with definite longitudinal streaks, prominent 



