131 



April 12, 1859. 



Professor Busk, F.R.S., in the Chair. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Description of a New Species of Owl of the genus 

 CiccABA. By Philip Lutley Sclater. 



Mr. Gurney has invited my attention to the example of an Owl of 

 the genus Ciccaba, which I now exhibit. It has already passed 

 through my hands once, having been submitted to my examination 

 by M. Verreaux, along with other birds from Southern Mexico, of 

 which I gave some account in these ' Proceedings ' for last year. 

 As will be seen by referring to my remarks given on that occasion *, 

 I then somewhat unwillingly referred it to Ciccaba huhula. Mr. 

 Gurney, however, having acquired the specimen for the Norwich 

 Museum, agrees with M. Jules Verreaux (whose opinion to that 

 effect I have already recorded) in insisting on its distinctness. And 

 having lately had an opportunity of examining a second specimen of 

 this bird in the collection of the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, I am 

 now quite prepared to coincide with their views, and to charactei'ize 

 this Mexican Ciccaba as an independent species, differing from, 

 though closely allied to, the S. American Ciccaba huhula. It may 

 be recognized at once by the more uniform colour above, there being 

 hardly a trace of white transverse markings, except on the elongated 

 feathers of the neck-collar ; and by the ground-colour below being 

 pure white, crossed by frequent narrow bands of black, each feather 

 showing three or four of such cross-bands. I propose to call this 

 bird 



Ciccaba nigrolineata. 



Schistacescenti-nigra, colli postici plumis elongatis et albo ter qua- 

 terve transfasciatis : maculis in regione superciliari et auri- 

 culari quibusdam albis : subtus alba, lineis nigris crebro trans- 

 fasciata : mento nigro : subalaribus albis, nigro variegatis : 

 Cauda nigra, albo quinquies transfasciata : rostro et pedibus 

 Jlavissimis : tibiis nigris, albo sparsis. 

 Long, tota lo'O, alse 10*5, caudse 6"78, rostriarictu 1"35, tarsi 2*1. 

 Hab. In Mexico Meridionali. 

 Mus. Norfolciense et Parisiense. 



2. Note on the Spur-winged Geese (Plectropterus) now 

 LIVING IN the Society's Gardens. By Philip Lutley 

 Sclater. 



(Aves, PI. CLIII.) 



The Society have frequently possessed living examples of the Spur- 

 winged Goose of Western Africa {Plectropterus gambensis) ; and we 

 * See P.Z.S, 1858, p. 96. 



