AVES STRIGID^. 68 1 



"The specimens from the Sandwich Islands form an interesting pair on 

 account of locality ; but they cannot be separated as a species. They are 

 rather small, and have a very dusky frontal patch ; this I have found in 

 other Asiatic specimens ; and therefore the Sandwich Island owl can only 

 be considered a small race of A. accipitrinusy (Sharpe, Cat. Bds. Brit. 

 Mus., Vol. II. pp. 238-239.) 



Hudson says (P. Z. S. 1870, pp. 800-801): "The Lechuson [Otitsbrachy- 

 otits), though, like the preceding species, pretty generally distributed 

 over the pampas, was, until within the last three years, rather a scarce bird. 

 It breeds on the ground, makes no nest, but merely clears and presses a 

 circular spot on the ground among the loose tussocks of long grass, and 

 lays four white eggs of a slightly oval form. Near sunset the Lechuson 

 is seen quitting its concealment and sitting perched upon a thistle or other 

 eminence, or sailing above the ground with a slow heron-like flight; at 

 intervals while flying it strikes its wings together under its breast in a very 

 sudden, quick manner. It is not at all shy, the intrusion of a man or dog 

 at evening in the field it frequents appearing greatly to excite its indig- 

 nation. An imitation of its cry will attract numbers of them about a 

 person ; the report of a gun has the same effect. The language of this 

 species has considerable variety ; when alarmed or angry they utter a loud, 

 sharp hiss, and at times a sudden shrill laugh-like cry. They have also a 

 dismal hollow scream, not often heard, and at twilight hoot — this part of 

 their vocal performance sounding not unlike the distant baying of a ' deep- 

 mouthed' watch-dog. 



"The Lechuson frequenting open plains in preference to woods, and 

 hiding by day on the ground, has the colour of its plumage adapted to a 

 country like the desert pampas, rough with a brown vegetation. But the 

 introduction and increase of sheep quickly changed the aspect of a vast 

 extent of the plain ; the long brown grasses disappeared, their place being 

 taken by a tender herbage, short and brilliant green ; the country was thus 

 unfitted for their pasture. All the wild animals have, no doubt, been 

 greatly affected by this sudden change in vegetation and total destruction 

 of cover. But cultivation has now partially restored the physical condi- 

 tions necessary to the preservation and increase of many species like the 

 Lechuson. In future descriptions I shall frequently refer to the changes 

 on the pampas." 



The same author writes in his Naturalist in La Plata (pp. 62-64): "In 



