1G Dr. IT. H. Giglioii — The strange 



instance of true neogenesis — and the divergence of the parent 

 birds from the normal type of A. noctua in different direc- 

 tions would go sonic way to prove that in them the force of 

 heredity had been disturbed, — we have before us an attempt 

 at the formation of a new species, a case of singular and 

 intense interest. I cannot but consider it as an attempt, 

 so far, for it is very possible that the couple of somewhat 

 anomalous A. noctua now dead — which generated in all pro- 

 bability the four and perhaps eight A. chiaradiee born at 

 Pizzocco, and which possibly may also have beeu the parents 

 of the couple from which the specimen at Fregona (at no 

 great distance) was born — were alone endowed with the 

 faculty of generating the black-eyed form, and they can do 

 so no more. Again, should any of their black-eyed offspring 

 have survived or should the occult primary causes leading to 

 this singular case of neogenesis yet exist, and should in 

 N.E. Italy or elsewhere individuals of A. chiaradiee he again 

 produced and be able to hived Freely, we cannot guess 

 whether or not the force of heredity, regaining its full sway, 

 may fix, so to speak, the differential characters of specific 

 value which suddenly emerged in the first specimens of 

 A. chiaradiee, or else, turning back to an easy atavism, 

 alter the black-eyed form again to the original yellow-eyed 

 A. noctua. 



Iu the first case a well-defined and remarkable .specie* 

 would be established ; in the second my A. chiaradiee would 

 disappear. In either case I opine that the name I have 

 given to the black-eyed Civetta should be maintained, for it 

 is of obvious scientific interest to save this important case 

 from oblivion. It will require several generations, under the 

 most favourable hypothesis, viz. that more A. chiaradiee he 

 produced, to enable us to decide whether or not a new 

 species of Athene has been formed. 



As to any other hypotheses to explain the formation of 

 A. chiaradiee, I can but repeat that I reject both that based 

 on hybridism, and that of a teratologic at or pathological 

 cause. Hybrids always shew traces of the characters of 

 both parents, especially when, as would be the ease iu 



