Todd-Carriker : Birds of Santa aIarta Region, Colombia. 215 



brasilia nit in ridgwayi (brown phase) it differs conspicuously in the 

 much browner, less grayish tone of the upper parts, and in the de- 

 cidedly more rufescent, less grayish color of the streaks on the under 

 surface. With only one specimen of ridgwayi in the rufescent phase 

 at present available we are unable to give any character for the sepa- 

 ration of the respective forms in that phase. In G. b. medianum the 

 streaks below are almost as rufescent in one phase as in the other, 

 while in all the other forms of this species (except, apparently, true 

 brasilianum) the two phases differ greatly in this respect. 



While agreeing with Dr. Chapman in the "belief that there is little 

 or nothing to be gained in proposing forms where geographic varia- 

 tion is so slight, and individual variation so great that subsequent 

 identification, except at type-localities, becomes largely a matter of 

 opinion," we feel that our conclusions in this particular case, supported 

 as they are by an array of well-prepared specimens representing the 

 several forms discussed, are worthy of acceptance. 



This little owl is fairly common in the Tropical Zone lowlands from 

 Santa Marta around to Fundacion. Apparently it is absent or very 

 rare on the north coast, as none were noted here whatever. It pre- 

 fers the thorny scrub and tangled undergrowth. 



148. Ciccaba virgata virgata (Cassin). 



Syrnium virgatum Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, XII, 1898, 157 (Pueblo 

 Viejo). — Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. Xat. Hist., XIII, 1900, 132 (Bangs' ref- 

 erence). 



Ciccaba virgata virgata Ridgway, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 50, VI, 1914, 

 762 ("San Lorenzo," [i.e., Cincinnati] and Pueblo Viejo; meas. ; crit.). 



Three specimens: La Tigrera and Cincinnati. 



No. 41,815, Cincinnati, April 15, is in the downy stage, the wing- 

 and tail-feathers just coming in. The other two are adults in the dark 

 phase, indistinguishable, so far as we can see, from specimens from 

 Venezuela and Costa Rica. 



A young bird in the down was taken at Cincinnati, April 15, 1913. 

 An adult was taken at the same place July 20, 191 1, and another in the 

 woodland along the banks of the Tamocal Creek a couple of miles be- 

 low La Tigrera, May 9, 1913. It seems to be a rare bird, with a 

 range extending through the Tropical Zone. 



