Paraguay, Bolivia, and Southern Brazil. 3.29 



and the 23i'd of December respectively. They measure : — 

 axis 1-5 to 1-Gl in., diam. 1-29 to 1-3. 



The nest was situated on the ground in a tuft of grass, and 

 composed of a little dry grass. 



173. AsiO MEXICANUS. 



Asio mexica^ius Sharpe, Cat. B. ii. p. 231. 



Asio clamator Sharpe, Haud-1. i. p. 280. 



a. $ ad. Pasage de Bugre, Brazil. Sept. 29, 1909. 



Irides brown ; bill and nails dull black. 



This is a rather paler specimen than the majority in the 

 British Museum ; it is rather worn, and perhaps a good deal 

 faded. 



174. Speotyto cunicularia. 



Bpeotyto cunicularia Sharjae, Cat. B. ii. p. 142; Arg. Orn. 

 ii. p. 52. 



a,b. S '^ ad. Los Ynglases, Ajo. Sept. 29, 1908. 



c,cl,e,f. ? ad. „ „ Oct. 21-22, 1908. 



g. ? ad. „ „ Nov. 1, 1908. 



h. S ^■^^- r ^y Jan- 8, 1909. 



i,j. ? ad. „ „ Feb. 1, 1909. 



Irides clear pale yellow ; bill pale green. 



The January and February birds are moulting, the old 

 feathers being much worn. Both the males are whiter below 

 and less marked than the females. 



This bird was exceedingly plentiful in the Ajo district, 

 and was very tame. The excellent notes on its habits given 

 by Hudson need no further additions. 



The nesting-hole is usually made in sandy soil and is 

 about three or four feet long : it is sometimes curved, more 

 often straight, and never far below the surface of the ground, 

 the end of the burrow being circular. Five or six eggs 

 constitute the clutch. Most of the females secured were 

 caught on the eggs, and offered no resistance when captured. 



Thirty-nine eggs were brought home, taken at Ajo between 

 October 22nd and November 1st, 1909, and measuring : 

 axis 135 to 1'5 in., diam. 105 to 1*15. 



