iSS6.] RiDGWAY on a Nezu Species of Elf Owl. •? ? ■? 



5. Philortyx personatus, sp. nov. ' 



Sp. Char. — Differing from /'.y"«5c/rti'«5 Gould, in having the forehead, 

 cheeks, and throat uniform black, instead of having these parts brown and 

 white, respectively; bill light brown, instead of black (possibly darker in 

 fully adult). Wing, 3.80; tail, 2.00; culmen, .42; tarsus, i.oo; middle toe, 

 .92. 



Habitat. Chietla, State of Puebla. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF BIRDS 



SUPPOSED TO BE FROM THE INTERIOR 



OF VENEZUELA. 



BY ROBERT RIDGWAY. 



I. Pyroderus masoni, sp. nov. 



Sp. Char. — Most like P. orenocensis Lafr. , but plumage much darker 

 beneath, the throat and jugulum nearly uniform dark brownish red, the 

 breast and abdomen dark brownish chestnut. (Type, No. 106,051, U. S. 

 Nat. Mus.) 



Dedicated to Professor Otis T. Mason, Curator of the Department of Eth- 

 nology, United States National Museum. 



2. Aulacorhamphus dimidiatus, sp. nov. 



Sp. Char. — Similar to A. atrogularis (Sturm.), but with the bill very 

 much shorter (culmen, 2.20-2.25), the gonys very little longer than the 

 ramus of the lower mandible, instead of nearly twice as long, and the 

 black stripe along edge of upper mandible much broader. (Type, No. 

 106,052, U. S. Nat. Mus.) 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF ELF OWL 

 FROM SOCORRO ISLAND, WESTERN MEXICO. 



BY ROBERT RIDGWAY. 



Micrathene graysoni, sp. nov. 



Sp. Char.— Similar to M. zvhitiicyi (Cooper), but much browner, the 

 plumage entirely without any superficial gray, and the light rustv tail- 



