148 MR. J. H. GURNEY ON ABYSSINIAN BIRDS. [Feb. 21, 



observed both in a state of nature, entertains tbe contrary opinion 

 {vide 'Observations on the Geology and Zoology of Abyssinia,' 

 p. 294), though there is no doubt that the two races, if distinct, are 

 nt least closely allied. Accipiter brachydactylus of Swainson is 

 certainly identical with A. sphenurus of Riippell. 



P. 210. Bubo ascalaphus, Savig. 



I have examined the specimen to which Dr. Finsch has assigned 

 this name ; and it appears to me not to belong to that species, but to 

 the nearly allied B. capensis. To this species the type specimen of 

 Bubo dilloni, Des Murs, which is preserved in the Museum of the 

 Jardin des Plantes at Paris, where I have examined it, is also refer- 

 able. 



P. 210. Bubo lacteus, Temm. 



Mr. Jesse notes the iris of this species as " bright yellow," 

 which 1 venture to think is an error, as in all the specimens which 

 have at different times been exhibited in the Society's Menagerie the 

 iris has been very dark brown. In this respect this Owl agrees with 

 all the other species of the subgenus Ayctaetus, to which it belongs, 

 as well as with those of the Asiatic subgenus Huh.ua, with which I 

 am disposed to think that Nyctaetus may be properly united. 



P. 319. Bubo maculosus (Vieill.). 



Dr. Finsch considers that B. cinerascens of Guerin is not distinct 

 from B. maculosus ; but I feel convinced that if he had had the 

 opportunity of comparing living specimens of the two species, which 

 1 have had more than once in the Society's Menagerie, he would 

 have arrived at a contrary conclusion. 



Independently of other differences, the iris in B. maculosus is 

 bright yellow, whereas in B. cinerascens it is very dark brown — the 

 latter bird belonging, like B. lacteus, to the subgenus Nyctaetus. 



P. 210. Scops senegalensis. 



The specimen which Dr. Finsch refers to Scops senegalensis 

 appears to me to belong to the nearly allied but more southern 

 species <S. latipennis (Licht.) — a race which is constantly distin- 

 guished by a blackish-grey tint over the whole plumage, which is 

 very marked in Mr. Jesse's specimen, and which I have never seen 

 in Scops senegalensis. Mr. Jesse's bird is the only example I have 

 seen of Scops latipennis from any locality north of the equator. 



P. 235. ThamnoljEA albiscapulata, Riipp. 



Dr. Finsch has the following remark under this head : — " This 

 species has often been erroneously confounded with the southern 

 T. cinnamomeiventris, Lafr., a very nearly allied but very different 

 species. The north-eastern T. albiscapulata is distinguished by 

 having the upper and undei tail-coverts black, the latter being only 

 cinnamomeous at the base, whereas in T. cinnamomeiventris these 



