14 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 77 



may have been brought from further north, but to what form to 

 assign it is difficult to say at this time. 



53. STRIX ALUCO MA (Clark) 



Syrniumma Clakk, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 32, 1907, p. 471 (Fusan, Korea). 



One female, Eastern Tombs, January 10. 



If /Stj'^x aluGO ma is really only a synonym of Strix nivicola 

 Blyth, as suggested by Hartert,^ then my Strix nivipetens is a very 

 distinct species, but I am now of the opinion that the latter equals 

 jStnx nimcola. Only an examination of Blji^h's type can settle the 

 matter. Syrnium ma is certainly only a race of Strix aluco while 

 Strix nimcola belongs to a southern type with a different wing 

 formula and the toes more extensively bare; the coloration much 

 darker. Since the above was written, Mr. Outram Bangs has ex- 

 amined the National Museum specimens of Strix nimcola and 

 reached practically the same conclusions (Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 

 vol. 70, 1930, p. 197). 



54. ATHENE NOCTUA BACTRIANA Hntton 



Athene bactriana Hutton, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal., vol. 16, 1847, p. 776 (Old 

 Candahar, Afghanistan). 



One male, 180 miles west-northwest of Paotow, Inner Mongolia, 

 April 14; two females, 85 and 65 miles north of Lanchow, Kansu, 

 June 16 and 17. 



The male from Paotow is slightly lighter even than a specimen of 

 this form from Transcaspia. The two Kansu specimens are much 

 like the Transcaspian bird above but slightly darker below, as they 

 are more worn. Two males of A. n. plufnipes from the Provinces 

 of Shansi and Shensi are considerably darker, especially on the 

 upper parts. 



Family MICROPODIDAE 



SWIFTS 

 55. MICROPUS APUS PEKINENSIS (Swinhoe) 



Cypselus pekinensis Swinhoe, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1870, p. 435 (Peking). 



One female, Lanchow, Kansu, July 11. 



This is considerably lighter than Chihli specimens, but plaster had 

 been used in its preparation and this always lightens dark-colored 

 birds. 



'' Vogel palSark. Fauna, part 7, 1913, p. 1026. 



