396 
There is a series of three, very similar, dark-eyed races, of 
different sizes, and each having its respective range of distribu- 
tion. The largest is HB. Rufitorques, Bonap. (Faun. Japon. 
Aves., tab. 8, where it is figured with yellow irides, which I 
suspect is a mistake): wing, 7 to 7°5 inches. The nextis £. 
Lettia, Hodgson, of the Indo-Chinese sub-region, spreading 
westward along the lower regions of the Himalaya; wing, 6°5 
to 7 inches. The third and smallest is H#. Griseus, Jerdon, 
(E. Lettioides, nobis,) from the Coromandel or eastern Ghats of 
the Indian peninsula, where only it has been observed as yet, 
being replaced in the western or Malabar Ghats and in Ceylon 
by the golden-eyed H. Lempiji: wing, 5:5 to 6 inches only. 
I believe that all of these will have to be eventually recognized 
as specific races, as also #. Rufescens (Horsf.) (#. Mantis, 8. 
Muller) from Sumatra, Java, and Borneo, and a much larger 
species which is otherwise very like it, #. Sagittatus, Cassin 
(Journ. Acad. Phil. II. pl. 12,) of which I have seen several 
specimens not differing in color, all of them from the Malayan 
peninsula, This fine Scops Owl bears just that relationship to 
E. Rufescens which EL. Rufitorques does to E. Griseus (EH. Let- 
tioides,) and I should long ago have named it, had I not been 
under the impression that it was the true Leufescens of Hors- 
field.’”* 
In regard to the above I must remark, first, that I somewhat 
doubt the identity of the Malabar Seops Owl (vide 75 quatuor) 
with 2. Lempiji, Horsfield ; secondly, that I do not attach much 
importance to the colour of the irides in this sub-group, this 
being unquestionably variable, in one species at least, viz. H. 
Griseus, in which I have observed them, dark brown, brownish 
yellow, and almost pure yellow; and, thirdly, that, as I shall 
more particularly note when speaking of that species, (75 tris) 
Griseus is not by any means confined to the Hastern Ghats, but 
* «T have looked over Mr. Wallace’s collection of Scops Owls (obtained by 
himself) and found no difficulty in resolving them into six species, v2. :— 
(1.) EL. Sylvicolus (Wallace,) Flores. The largest of them, a young 
specimen having the closed wing, 8°5 inches. 
(2.) #. Magicus (Muller); HL. Leucospilu, G. R. Gray. From the 
Moluceas. Since identifying these, I have found that Professor Schlegel has 
likewise done the same. 
(3.) #. Menadensis (Quoy and Gaim.) From Celebes and Flores. 
(4.) #. Lempiji, Horstield (Strix noctula, Reinw. and Temm.) Malayan 
sub-region, Ceylon and Malabar. 
4 (5.) £. Rufescens, Horsf. (Otus mantis, Muller.) Sumatra, Java, 
orneo. 
(6.) E. Malayanus (A. Hay.) Malayan peninusula.” (See further, p. 403.) 
