SCOPS. 69 



tract. Two biserial bands of delicate contour-feathers are also observable at the sides of the 

 dorsal portion of the spinal tract, parallel to but at a considerable distance from it, running down 

 from the scapula to the hip-joint. The fork of the scapular portion of the spinal tract sparser, and 

 the limbs of the dorsal portion shorter than in Bubo ; the simple main stem is consequently 

 longer. 



1. Sir. otus. Twenty-four remiges; the second and third the longest, both with a slightly 

 noticeable emargination of the inner vane near the apex. 



2. Sir. brachyotus. Twenty-four rerniges ; the second the longest ; the first somewhat 

 shorter than the third, with an emarginatiou near the end of the inner vane. 



3. SCOPS, Cuvier. 



In the pterylosis I can find no difference from Bubo, except that the tracts, and especially 

 the dorsal portion of the spinal tract, are softer. 



1. Str. asio TEMM., PI. Col., SO. Twenty-two remiges, the first four with a slight, deeply 

 seated emargination of the inner vane, and graduated ; the fourth the longest ; the third equal to 

 the sixth, the second to the seventh, the first scarcely equal to the ninth. 



2. Str. scops- Twenty-three remiges, the first three with a strong angular emargination of 

 the inner half of the vane near the apex; the first as long as the fifth; the second and third 

 nearly of equal length, but the third the longest. No ear-valve. Toes naked. 



b. Without ear-tufts. 



1. Str. aluco. Pterylosis exactly as in Bubo, except that the dorsal portion of the spinal 

 tract appears at first to be separated from the scapular portion, and the convergent rows of 

 feathers which unite them appear to be wanting. Lumbar tracts present and of considerable 

 size. Twenty-three remiges ; first five with an emargination ; the fourth and fifth the longest. 

 1 have already mentioned that in incubating females the contour feathers of the main stem of 

 the inferior tract are deficient, and thus brood-spots are produced ; the outer branch is not in 

 the least implicated in this. 



2. Str. uralensis TEMM., PL Col., 27. I could neither examine the pterylosis nor exactly 

 determine the number of remiges in the specimens observed ; I shall therefore only mention that 

 the first primary is equal to the tenth, and that the fourth and fifth are the longest. The first 

 three or four have an emargination. 



3. Str. lapponica. Of this species, which is very nearly allied to the two preceding, and has 

 exactly the appearance of a young bird, I have only been able to examine stuffed specimens at 

 Paris and Berlin. The number of remiges was not accurately determinable ; the first was only 

 as long as the tenth; the second was equal to the seventh, the third to the sixth, and the fourth 

 and fifth were the longest ; the first four had a right-angled emargination of the inner vane, 

 situated very near to the apex. 



4. Str. nyctea. Pterylosis exactly as in S. aluco ; the spinal tract interrupted behind the 

 fork, but the interval shorter. Twenty-nine remiges ; the first nearly as long as the fifth, and 



TJNIVERS.; 



