226 DR. J. J. KAUP'S MONOGRAPH OF THE STRIGIDiE. 



two species of this subgenus to represent the Bubo orientalis and coromnndus, which are 

 spread over Asia. 



Subgenus e. Megascops. 



Diagn. — Nostrils on the margin of the cera. First wing-feather as long as the seventh 

 or tenth ; first to fourth wing-feather emarginated on the inner web. Tarsi feathered ; 

 toes mostly naked. 



Hab. Asia and America ; the largest birds of the genus. 



Descr. — They resemble in some respects the true Scops, but the upper parts are darker, 

 and the bill in old age is yellowish or dark brownish, and never black. The ground 

 colour is mostly rusty-red or grey, with irregular black shaft-spots and interrupted 

 cross lines. Between these lines are small spots and rusty-red bands. Round about 

 the occiput a white or rusty-red band, and nearer the back a second collar of the same 

 colour : near the eyes darker : the face mostly lighter ; there is also on the front a 

 small stripe of white extending from the lorum over the eye. The feathers of the hinder 

 margin of the ear have black or dark-brown points, with a black horizontal stripe. 

 Along the shoulder-coverts a series of white or ferruginous spots, also some feathers of 

 the same colour on the margin of the wing. 



The first ten feathers of the wing are brown, pointed with from five to eight whitish 

 or light rusty-yellow, black-margined spots. These inner webs are clearer in the young 

 bird, and the under parts more lightly coloured, white or rusty-red, with black shaft- 

 stripes and irregular cross lines, which come from the shaft-stripe. On the blackish 

 ground-colour of the tail are irregular stripes and cross bands, which are clearer on the 

 under side. 



9. Scops flammeola. 



Strix flammeola, Licht. in Mus. Berol. 



Diagn. — Wing 120-130, tail 56-66 mm. long. Mexico. 



Descr. — The smallest of all the species in this section, as also in the whole genus and 

 subfamily StrigincB. I know of two specimens in the Berlin Museum'. The larger one is 

 very elegantly grey, spotted with white, black, and rusty-yellow. The bristle-feathers very 

 long, like trichopsis, white on the root and black on the end. The face is white and 

 grey, with black points, and rusty tint next the eye. A stripe over the eye white with 

 black margin. The veil white with rusty-yellow and black end. Under the chin with 

 three black bands and rusty-yellow margin on each feather. Ear-horns with black 

 cross bands, on the inner web white, on the outer web rusty-brown. The upper part 

 coloured and with drawing like the other ; round the occiput a band of white, black- 

 lined and spotted feathers. A second neck-collar, similarly coloured and drawn, is 



' Specimens of this species have been lately obtained by M. Salle in Vera Cruz. See Proc. Zool. Soc. 1858, 

 p. 9G. (P. L. S.) 



