12 
fulvous. In the original description, however, it is stated that some 
of the scapulars are “with large, nearly white spots on outer webs.” * 
As pointed out by Grant? the species is at once distinguished from 
mindorensis by its much greater size. In our specimen, a male, 
the wing measures 8.25 inches and the tail 4.40, while in min- 
dorensis of the same sex these parts are 6.30 and 3.50 inches, 
respectively, as already recorded in my last paper. 
If we compare the two species mentioned above with a typical 
hawk owl, Ninox japonica, we are struck by the great difference 
in color and color pattern. In the former nearly the whole plumage 
is finely barred, the only longitudinal markings being those on 
chin and throat. In japonica the entire under parts are marked 
with broad stripes and the upper parts are nearly uniform except 
for the large white patches on scapulars and inner tertiaries. The 
banding on the tail is also strikingly different in the two groups. 
OTUS ROMBLONIS, new species. 
Specific characters—Similar to Otus cuyensis McGregor but 
smaller; wings and tail much shorter. 
Type.—Adult female, No. 4386, Philippine Museum; Romblon 
Island, Philippines; June 2, 1904; McGregor et alie. 
Description.—Feathers of upper parts rufous with median black 
stripes on head, neck, and back, heaviest on head; “horns” colored 
like neck and inconspicuous; white spots on scapulars washed with 
pale fulvous; lower parts and wings patterned as in O. cuyensis 
but more rufescent; black band on side of head narrower and less 
marked than in cuyensis. ‘Total length in flesh, 8.75 inches; wing, 
6.23; tail, 3; tarsus, 1.15; middle toe with claw, 1.10. 
Like others of its genus the Romblon owl may be heard often 
enough but is difficult to locate in the dense foliage it frequents. 
The type, the only specimen seen by us, was killed in a cocoanut 
grove near the town of Romblon. 
So far as I am aware no species of Otws has been reported from 
the central Philippines (Negros, Guimaras, Masbate, Panay, Ticao), 
where one might reasonably expect to find the nearest relative of 
the Romblon screech owl. In Mindoro Otus mindorensis (White- 
head) oceurs, but this is another style of owl, related to O. longi- 
1Minn. Acad. Nat. Sci., Oc. Papers, I, No. 1, p. 8. 
2Ibis, Oct., 1896, p. 227. 
