42 Contributions to the Ornithology oj Japan. 



EMBERIZA YESSOENSIS. 



Three examples from Yezo prove the distinctness of this 

 species, which was figured in ' The Ibis ' for 1879, pi. i. 



SYRNIUM TJRALENSE. 



The skin sent (No. 3163) from Yezo is sexed a female, 

 and dated October, but is no more rufous than examples from 

 Krasnoyarsk (see Ibis, 1879, p. 180). 



BUBO BLAKISTONI, Seebohm, nov. sp. P. Z. S. Nov. 20th, 

 1883. 



It seems probable that the name of B. maximus must be 

 erased from the list of Japan birds. The Owl which has 

 hitherto done duty for this species in Japanese collections 

 turns out to be almost generically distinct. The skin is 

 dated Hakodadi, December. 



General colour of the upper parts brown, marbled with 

 buff, which takes the form of transverse bars on the wings 

 and tail; all the small feathers with broad dark-brown shaft- 

 streaks. Underparts similar, but the shaft-streaks narrower. 

 Chin and upper throat white, with very narrow shaft-streaks. 

 Ear-tufts well developed. Tarsus feathered, but toes 

 entirely bare. Length of wing 22 inches, tail 11, tarsus 3'8, 

 culmen 2' 5. 



This bird is probably the largest known species of Owl, 

 and forms a connecting link between the genera Bubo and 

 Ketupa. It is perhaps nearest to B. coromandus, but is 

 much larger, and is without any trace of feathers on the 

 feet. 



SCOPS STICTONOTUS. . 

 SCOPS JAPONICUS. 



A series from Hakodadi of the grey form to the rufous 

 form presents almost every intermediate stage, and shows 

 that these supposed species are only phases of plumage of a 

 variable species, probably climatic varieties. 



SCOPS SEMITORQUES. 



Males appear to measure 6 inches in length of wing and 

 females 7 inches. 



