STRIX INEXSPECTATA. 



51 



but it is to be observed, that in some specimens recently- 

 received the rusty colour of under parts and face is strongly 

 inclined to white. 



On examining a large series of birdskins collected in 

 the northern parts of Celebes and presented to the Ley- 

 den Museum by S. C. I. W. van Musschenbroek , Esq., I was 

 quite astonished to find , that there exists , in the Mina- 

 hassa , beside Strix Rosenbergii , another large species of 

 Barn-owl , very different as well from Strix Rosenbergii 

 as from all the other known species. I therefore give 

 to it the epithet of inexspectata. 



In general apparance , size and distribution of colours , 

 Strix inexspectata recalls to the mind Strix Rosen- 

 bergii , but it shows , on a close examination very diffe- 

 rent characteristics. One of the most striking of these is the 

 shortness of the wings , occasioned by much shorter pri- 

 maries which overreach the secundaries in a degree lesser 

 than the half as it is the case in Strix Rosenbergii, as 

 will be seen from the comparative measures of the fore- 

 said part designated under the name of point of wing. 

 Another very remarkable character occurs in the black 

 bars both of the primaries and secundaries being smaller 

 and more numerous in our new species and fading gradually 

 away on the underside of the inner webs of the primaries , 

 running or passing from the last to the first of these 

 quills, the latter showing no bars at all. The ground- 

 colour of the under side of the primaries is moreover 

 much darker and gray with a silverish hue. The tail of 

 Strix inexspectata is furnished with nine bars , that of Strix 

 Rosenbergii only with five. The downy feathers of the 

 tarsus are more developped and cover the foot down to 

 the toes, exactly as in Strix Novae Hollandiae and cas- 

 tanops. The toes are somewhat shorter and much more 

 slender. The ground colour of the upper parts is a very 

 bright rufous and not shaked with gray, but the white 

 spots are smaller. The ground colour of the under side of 

 the body is as rufous as in the darkest specimens of Strix 



Notes from the Leytlen !Museum, 



