58 MESSRS. SCLATER AND SALVIN ON NEW BIRDS. [Jan. 23, 



Mr. Salvin has lately received from Costa Rica a skin of a Scops 

 which seems to be referable to this species. It is immediately 

 distinguishable by its naked tarsus (see fig. 3). 



We are not yet convinced of the validity of the following spe- 

 cies: — 



(1) Scops atricapillus (Temm.) Probably only a variety of S. ' 

 hrasilianus. 



(2) Scops ustus, Sclater. Probably an hepatic variety of the same 

 species. 



(3) Scops watsoni, Cassin, (4) Scops lophotes, Less., and (5) Scops 

 portoricensis. Less. Specimens of these species have not yet come 

 under our observation. 



4. Syrnium fulvescens, sp. nov. 

 Syrnium nehulosum, Scl. et Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 221. 

 Supra chocolatino-brunneum, fulvo transfasciatum et maculatum : 

 disci facialis plutnis albis, fulvo et nigro varieyatis : alarum 

 tectricibus minoribus in pogonio externa macidis rotundis albis 

 distincte notatis : alis caudaque brunneis, fulvo transfasciatis : 

 subtus fulvum, in pectore albicans, brunneo frequenter trans- 

 fasciatum, ventre pallide fulvescenti-albido fulvo stric/ato, crisso 

 immaculato: tectricibus subalaribus pallide fulvis : tarsis cum 

 digitorum phalangibus primis dense vestitis, plumis fulvis nigri- 

 cante punctulatis : rostro dare flavo : digitis nudis camels; 

 nnguibus nigris : long, tola 16, alte 12-5, cauda 7"3, <am 2*2. 

 Hab. Guatemala. 



Obs. Sim. iS. nebuloso, sed crassitie minore, colore magis fulvo, 

 et digitis nisi in summis phalangibus nudis dignoscendum. 



The collection of Messrs. Salvin and Godman contains three spe- 

 cimens of this Owl from various parts of Guatemala ; and we have 

 met with other examples from the same country. We have hitherto 

 confounded it with Syrnium nebulosum, but have recently convinced 

 ourselves upon reexamination of its being quite distinct. In its more 

 denuded toes it rather resembles the southern S. hijlophilum. The 

 fourth and fifth quills of the wing are nearly equal and longest. 

 The ear-opercle is very well developed, as in S. nebulosum. 



Mr. Gurney's collection contains a skin of this Owl, said to be 

 from Mexico ; so that the Mexican bird, hitherto referred to S. nebu- 

 losum*, may possibly belong to this species. 



We are acquainted with the following species of American Owls 

 strictly referable to the genus Syrnium, which contains, according to 

 our views, a series of large species without ear-horns, having the lower 

 portion of the toes bare, the facial disk for the most part entire, and 

 the operculum of the ear greatly developed. Species of Wagler's 

 genus Ciccaba have been very much mixed up with those of this 

 group. The presence or absence of the ear-opercle, however, is suf- 



* Sclater, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 298. 



