202 DR J. J. KAUP'S MONOGRAPH OF THE STRIGID^. 



1. GlAUCIDIUM PUMILUM, iii^. 



Sirix pumila, 111. Temm. PL Col. 39. 



ferox, Vieill. Azara, N. 49. 



minutissima, Pr. Max. 



Athene pumila, G. R. Gray. 

 minutissima, Bp. 



Diagn. — Tail 53 mm. long only, with three to four white spots, not reaching to the 

 shafts. 



Descr. — The head-feathers light ash-grey ; each with three round white spots, and 

 margined with black. Shoulder-coverts partly unicolor, partly with three white or 

 rufous-yellow-wbite spots, mostly on the outer webs, which do not form a large band. 

 The smaller feathers of the wings with round white spots on the outer webs, sometimes 

 on the shaft and concealed. Outer webs of the first and second wing-feathers unicolor ; 

 third and fourth with two to three rufous-yellow spots. The wing on the interior parts 

 whitish, towards the end dusky, with five to six dark cross bands. The tail with three 

 to four pairs of white spots, not reaching to the shafts. The lower parts white, with 

 large rufous spots, and two long stripes along the belly. Tarsi rufous-yellowish-white, 

 distinctly spotted with rufous. 



Azara says that this smallest of all the Owls, or Rapaces, attacks with success the 

 Turkey and Caracara. All the species of this genus feed on insects, and we cannot 

 understand how this pigmy is able to kill birds which surpass him so greatly in 

 weight and strength. Azara possibly observed this unusual courage in a captive one, 

 and he therefore concluded it exercises the like boldness in a wild state. This, 

 although possible, admits of doubt. 



2. Glaucidium nanum, Boie. 



F. Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 976. 



Strix nana, King, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 426; Bonap. Cousp. p. 37. 



Athene nana, G. R. Gray, Genera of Birds, t. 12. 



leucolaima, H. et Jaeq. Voy. pi. 4. 2, 3. 



Diagn. — Tail 63-70 mm. long, with eight to ten rufous cross bands reaching to the 

 shaft. 



Descr. — Head-feathers rufous or grey-brownish, with white shafts and shaft-stripes. 

 Back rufous-brown, with two to three rufous-white spots round the shafts. Shoulder- 

 coverts with rufous-yellowish-white spots, and long, white, dark-margined spots on 

 the exterior margin, forming long stripes. Smaller feathers of the wing with large, 

 round, black-margined spots on the outer webs, and smaller rufous-yellow concealed 

 spots. Exterior web of the first wing-feather with two, second with two or three, third 

 with three white spots. Interior wing-feathers whitish, darker towards the end, with 



