34 BUBO LETTI1. 



NOTE VIII. 

 ON A NEW OWL FROM LIBERIA. 



BY 



J. BÜTTIKOFER. 



Amongst the last birds received from Mr. Stampfli , there 

 was a very peculiar new Owl, which I propose to name Bubo 

 lettii, after its discoverer Mr. Lett, our former landlord and 

 huntsman at Schieffelinsville. This Owl shows no affinity to 

 any of the Owls at present known from the old world, but 

 might rather be compared with the West-Indian Bubo crista- 

 tus, on account of the exceedingly long ear-tufts aud the white 

 alar spots. 



General color rufous, forehead, superciliary streak, chin and 

 upper throat pearly gray, slightly vermiculated with earthy 

 brown, which latter color predominates on occiput, hind neck 

 and ear-tufts. Eye-lashes and feathers in front of the eye black, 

 cheeks aud ear-coverts rufous, with darker vermiculations. Si- 

 des of throat white, each feather broadly tipped with black. 

 Mantle, back, rump and upper tail-coverts uniform rufous, 

 tail rufous, with seven broad black bars. Wings rufous, the 

 quills and wing-coverts broadly barred with black. Four of 

 the median wing-coverts have a large white oval spot on the 

 outer web near the tip. Lesser wing-coverts and primary 

 coverts almost black, tipped with rusty brown; scapulars ru- 

 fous, strongly vermiculated with pearly and dark brown, the 

 outer ones white on the outer web, with a broad black termi- 

 nal edge, forming together a conspicuous longitudinal white 

 row. Under wing-coverts rufous, with a patch of dark brown 

 near the edge of the wing. Entire chest rufous , with paler ver- 

 miculations, breast and flanks pale fulvous, with very conspi- 

 cuous dark brown shaft-streaks, abdomen, vent, thighs, tarsi 

 and under tail-coverts uniform fulvous. Iris, bill and toes yel- 

 low, claws flesh-color. Wing 28 cm., tail 15, tarsus 3,5, 

 middle toe without claw 3, culmeu in straight line '2,6. 



JNoti'S frc.m the L.eytlen Museum, Vol. XI. 



