AVG 
This is what Mr. Blyth says, 
“Mr, Gurney has called my attention to certain distinctions 
observable in a Japanese race supposed hitherto to be this 
species. The tail has only six narrow white bars, one terminal, 
and another of them at the extreme base of the feathers, so 
that four only remain to constitute the conspicuous barring of 
the rectrices ; the markings of the wing primaries and seconda- 
ries are also fewer and further apart than in the common 
Himalayan bird. In India, the latter is quite peculiar to the 
Himalaya, whereas in Burmah, the race considered hitherto as 
identical, extends down to the level of the sea shore ; a pair 
had their abode in the verandah of Col. Phayre’s residence in 
Rangoon. This Indo-Chinese bird requires now to be com- 
pared with the Japanese race, which latter seems to be suffi- 
ciently distinct to warrant the application of a new name; and 
I therefore propose to designate it Athene Whiteleyi. Except 
in the comparative fewness of the markings upon the flight 
feathers of the wings, and more especially the rectrices, it 
entirely resembles the A. Cucwloides. The Chinese species 
hitherto referred to A. Cuculoides is probably identical with 
that of Japan.” 
Besides the Indian species, already enumerated, numerous 
other Athene’s, (even restricting the genus, as I would, and 
excluding Winov and Glaucidium,) occur in Malayana, in 
many cases, each Island having its own distinct form of Owlet, 
the extreme proncness to vary in the type form of this genus 
being as remarkable as m Accipiter. 
I notice a remark of Mr. Blyth’s in the [bis about another 
species of Athene. He says “A. sonierati (Temm. Pl. Col. 
21) is stated to have been sent from Pondicherry by JZ 
Leschenault, but no such bird is known in India or Burma. 
Dr. Pucheran identifies it with Strix superciliaris, Vieillot (Rey. 
Zool. 1849, :p. 19,) which is therefore different from Ephialtes 
Sagittatus, Cassin, (Ibis, 1863, p. 21): and Prof. Kaup desig- 
nates it Jeroglaux Supercitiaris, but without mentioning its 
particular habitat which was unknown to Mr. Vieillot. The 
same individual specimen in the Paris Museum was described 
by Temminck, Vieillot, and Lesson.”’ 
Temminck, I note, says that this bird was sent from Pon- 
dicherry by Sonnerat. 
It seems to me by no means certain that this species may not 
occur in India. Scarcely a week passes without some hitherto 
unrecorded species turning up, and 1 therefore quote Temminck’s 
remarks and description. ‘This species is nearly allied to 
Strix Passerind and Tegmaimi of Wurope ; the tail is much longer 
